Fashion, Symbolism and Radical Imagery: In Conversation with Kent Monkman

Kerry Swanson is a powerful speaker and a great moderator! She and Kent Monkman had a lively conversation about the role of fashion in their lives and about Kent's, Miss Chef Eagle Testickle, a fashionable warrior woman, who takes her rightful place in treaty talks, Paris fashion shows, and performances around the world. The conversation featured a humorous yet deep discussion about how Kent, an author, painter, educator, performance artist and creator of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, continuously creates far reaching and powerful ways to affirm Indigenous presence, perspectives and invaluable contributions, past and present. I celebrated Canada 150 through Indigenous Fashion and Performance, last summer in Vancouver, (opening night and runway). This was, to me, a strong statement of resilience, strength, creativity, achievement and position.

However, I learned to look more carefully and to think a lot about "colonial perspective", the one sided version evident in North American Landscape paintings, and got an instant education about that, through slides of Kent's reinterpreted visions. Through Miss Chief's supernatural powers as a trickster, she can be anywhere at any time, so can correct "colonial mythologies", add the entirely absent Indigenous history to the conversation and also highlight appropriation (mis) of regalia and other cultural and spiritual symbols. And where does fashion come in? How about Miss Chief and Louis Vuitton making a 'marriage' collaboration which educates against misappropriation, shows the origin and purpose of the head dress and underlines the power of Fashion and Art to bring credit and cultural accuracy down the runway? Many, many voices in this conversation.

I encourage you to read more about Kent Monkman's iconic work on his website. Where else would I have had such an opportunity to meet him and hear him talk about the challenges and triumphs he faces as an Indigenous Artist? His vision is supported by collaboration, and an especially important muse, Giselle Gordon, was in the audience. Many young designers there, went off to continue the discussion. Lots of learning through humour and delight, both important learning vehicles. IFWTO is certainly the place to be, if you want to find Indigenous Fashion, Art, Craft, Panels, Workshops, Marketplaces...making today's history, monumentally!