Paris, June Fourth, Fifth, & Sixth, Two Thousand & Six

2006 - 2013

“Paris, June Fourth, Fifth, & Sixth, Two Thousand & Six features 77 black and white photographs that Vancouver artist Dana Claxton made during a short, three-day visit to Paris, France. Initially conceived as a document of “Indians” as a prevalent cultural trope within the Parisian cityscape, Claxton’s photographic journey subsequently grew into a larger and more diverse portrait of the city’s urban life, a journey now compiled into this provocative publication. Claxton – who is of Hunkpapa Lakota ancestry – has been investigating the impact of colonialism on Aboriginal cultures throughout North America, and her innovative works readdressing the concerns and realities of contemporary Aboriginal peoples are recognized for their bold aesthetics and political punch. Her work is a powerful meditation on how representations and stereotypes of First Nations have been constructed and commodified, both historically and throughout contemporary popular culture.”

— From the Polygon Gallery