Joel Matthew Warkentin, The Nameless Boy who gave his name to Sunday – Interaction #12, 2020, Photograph on aluminum, Courtesy of the artist
The Nameless Boy who gave his name to Sunday
September 2021 – August 2023
The Nameless Boy who gave his name to Sunday is a collection of photographs and sculptures by multidisciplinary artist Joel Matthew Warkentin. Each of the photographs in the series focuses on a single figure interacting with abstract sculptural objects – representing sensory observations as they relate to experiences of sanctity, or spirituality. This exhibition prompts investigation into concepts that have traversed human history: ritual, spirituality, and symbolism.
In both his photographs and his sculptures, Warkentin makes use of a monochromatic colour palette and various types of natural wood to explore common human experiences. Wood is his chosen sculptural material because, the artists states, “It shows scars just like people do, it shows its age just like people do, and it comes in all shapes, sizes, and colours, just like people do.” In this way, Warkentin’s artworks abstractly explore concepts of sensory perception, symbolism, and universal spirituality but in a playful way that is accessible to any audience with some curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to discover new perspectives.
Curated by Ash Slemming
Touring from the Alberta Society of Artists, TREX Southwest
Artist Bio
Joel Matthew Warkentin is a Canadian artist who was raised in his father’s workshop with the smell of sawdust in his nostrils. He returned to the workshop and found his inspiration as an artist. Warkentin graduated with Honours from the Alberta University of the Arts, formerly the Alberta College of Art + Design. During his time there, he directed the Ivan Gallery, assisted the Illingworth Kerr Gallery in the creation of Rodney LaTourelle’s installation The Stepped Form, and studied performance under Rebecca Belmore. Warkentin obtained a graduate degree in Fine Art from the University of Calgary.
Joel Matthew Warkentin’s practice investigates intrinsic senses within the human experience and the conceptual understanding of spirituality. Joel received a Queen Elizabeth II scholarship to continue his research into religious symbols, including the halo. This research was presented at the Universities Art Association of Canada Conference in 2018. Since then, he has continued researching other symbols and their importance relevant to understanding a universal spiritual experience.