Kanata media artist Alison Chung-Yan’s short video, Transformation, was selected for screening in the Canada Pavilion at World Expo 2010, running until Oct. 31, in Shanghai, China.
Chung-Yan has lived in Kanata
for five years and has enjoyed the Beaver Pond nature and bike trails on
occasion, one of the areas emphasized in her video.
“Part of the reason why I thought to bring this up now is
I'm aware of a lot of the controversy going on with the Beaver Pond area right
now,” she said.
“That’s one of the areas highlighted in the video. I think
this video goes a long way to capture what I love about the place. I'm hoping
between the National Capital Commission, the residents and the developers, that
we find a way to keep what's actually very unique and precious to Kanata.”
The video is kaleidoscopic, portraying the City of Ottawa’s growth,
transformation and renewal from its natural and rural heritage through to its industrial
and high-tech present.
“The changing city is juxtaposed against the passage from
day to night with footage taken from west-Ottawa and environs including Britannia Bay
and Kanata's
Beaver Pond area,” said Chung-Yan.
“Transformation depicts a city that embraces the beauty of
its natural environment alongside its rural and urban landscapes. The work
resonates with Canada's
theme at Expo 2010: The Living City: inclusive, sustainable, creative.”
Chung-Yan was one of 165 artists chosen to represent Canada at the
World Expo out of thousands of applicants.
“It was quite an honour,” she said about being chosen. “It
was a real opportunity to showcase what I really like about Ottawa.”
Cirque du Soleil is the producer of the Canada Pavilion's
cultural program which features a diversity of artists, works and performances
from a variety of disciplines including dance, music, literature, visual arts
and media arts. More than 45 short pieces by both established and emerging
filmmakers will be showcased on screens in the pavilion's waiting area.
To view the video, visit www.alisonchungyan.com.
“I hope people do take the time to actually look at it,” she
said. “We want to make sure what's precious isn’t lost.”