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Tell Me the Truth

With Indigenous adornment as a framework in Tell Me the Truth, Blackburn challenges and explores complex questions regarding beauty, innovation, language loss and revitalization, survival, memory and the body.

The first iteration of the 'Truth Basket' was made in 2017/18 and offered the public the opportunity to leave a written truth within it. Phase 2 includes recordings of the artist's mother, Cecile Blackburn translating the notes left in the basket into the Dene language. The audio recording is triggered when a viewer walks by releasing sound the emanates the air, escaping the basket. This translation speaks to language loss and reclamation as Blackburn involves the viewer in the frutrations of not knowing what is being translated, the same frutration she often feels not understanding or speaking the Dene language.

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