Kelly Richardson: Origin Stories
January 22–April 5, 2025
Salah J. Bachir New Media Wall
Curator: Kristen Gergely
Kelly Richardson’s Origin Stories is a metaphysical exploration that transcends traditional photography, transforming extinct species into crystalline, diamond-like forms. Set in the vastness of cosmic space, Richardson’s digital debris field emits an eerie symphony, symbolizing Earth’s unique place in the universe and humanity’s isolation. The work provokes a powerful question: given humanity’s monumental efforts to find life beyond Earth, how differently would we value species threatened by extinction today if they were discovered on another planet? Richardson challenges us to reflect on our connection to life, the impact of climate change, and the extinction crisis we are both witnessing and contributing to. In collaboration with the Awi’nakola Foundation, the artist emphasizes the urgency of reconsidering our relationship with the planet and prioritizing its preservation.
Kelly Richardson, Origin Stories, double-channel video, (still) 2023. Courtesy the artist.
Bios
Kelly Richardson
Victoria-based artist Kelly Richardson integrates 19th-century landscape painting, 20th-century cinema, and 21st-century planetary exploration in her video installations and digital photographic prints. Her work prompts contemplation of both the future and the present. Recent solo exhibition venues include the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (Sunderland, England), the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (Vienna, Austria), and the Contemporary Art Gallery Vancouver. In 2013 the artist was invited to present a major survey at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (Buffalo, New York). Richardson has participated in biennales in Beijing (China), Busan (South Korea), and Montréal. Her work is held in such notable collections as the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and the Arts Council Collection (London, England).
