Nocturne 2022 focuses on our legacies

The 15th anniversary Nocturne show marks a fantastic benchmark, but will focus on what we leave behind

CITYnews halifax \ Jordan Parker

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The 15^th anniversary Nocturne show marks a fantastic benchmark, but will focus on what we leave behind for their 2022 iteration.

The theme of Legacies refers to honouring traditions, being accountable for our past, and building a better, more interconnected future.

For curators in residence Stephanie Yee and Lux Habrich, it was crucial to understand the multiple meanings of the term.

“We wanted to think of a theme that would let us reach everyone. We hope people will consider their own relationships with how they live, how they move through the world, and their connection to how larger society functions,” said Yee.

“It was about finding the throughline from the individual to the collective. We need to look at the complexities of our colonial legacy, the systems of oppression that existed, and the legacies left behind that made things difficult for our current generation.”

Yee, a second-generation Chinese Canadian artist, is based in Halifax, and has been an artist, facilitator and curator. Habrich is a visual artist, arts facilitator and support worker originally from Montreal, but now living in Halifax.

“There’s a need to question ourselves, and the difficulties there were for marginalized people and queer people to exist. We need to ensure those who have been kept out historically can now better show up in spaces,” she said.

“We can be better allies and supporters. Lux and I saw an importance in carrying through on this idea of a shared legacy.”

The two curators made sure that Nocturne was a space where artists were all supported, and there was a profound sense that everyone could lift each other up.

“It’s been a really great journey, and we also want not just artists to think about their relation to the theme, but the public as well,” said Yee.

There was a sense that Nocturne needed to give people a new way to look at and activate the spaces they walk by every day. After two years dealing with lockdowns and restrictions, many became used to home and work as their two major spaces.

“This festival is so cool, because people can walk down their streets and their downtown, and see the community in a different light. We want to inspire people to see and imagine the city as something that can come alive,” she said.

“This is a way to get people looking at art, caring about art, and maybe having an amazing experience. It may make people want to see other pieces as well.”

Yee was excited to co-curate with Habrich, as the two had worked together at the previous year’s festival.

“We constructed a dragon together last year, which was a great experience. We hung it from scaffolding on the waterfront. When I first applied for Nocturne, I had a weekend free. It was exciting to think about being a part of it,” she said.

“Getting to collaborate on that was amazing. We got to experiment, as I’d never done work with scaffolding or tarp. Nocturne supported me trying to hang a 30-foot dragon. It was just a great experience.”

When the call for a curatorial team in Nocturne’s 15^th year came, Yee was immediately curious. She felt they could once again support her trying to do new things, and immediately got in touch with Lux.

Together, they’ve created a year where there is a huge emphasis on supporting the artists involved.

“We really put supporting artists first. We want to give artists a place to be playful and experiment,” she said. “There’s also the Artists Support Network, which connects alumni with current artists to give advice as well.”

Yee says this is the first year where things are fully back in-person, and there are plenty of things to get caught up in.

“The MacPhee Centre (For Creative Learning) has some amazing fall programming in response to the question ‘What is a legacy?,’ and participants did some special things,” she said.

“There are all kinds of things along the waterfront, and so many engaging works. There are day-time and night-time things, and all kinds of ways we’ve activated public spaces.”

In response to Nocturne, Yee hopes people reflect on their own contributions to the world, and what they leave behind.

“We encourage people to really take everything in, and look at different ways to consider and reflect on the word ‘legacies’,” she said.

“Think about it on your own, what brings you out to Nocturne, and what you want your legacy to be.”

Nocturne runs October 13 to October 15. For more information on Nocturne and to learn more about what’s on offer, visit nocturnehalifax.ca/.