Kindred Biomes

Kindred Biomes was created for the University of Calgary: Cumming School of Medicine’s conference: Neuroimmunophysiology of the GI Tract (2023). The organizers of this international conference hosted in Banff, Alberta, at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, sought out submissions from BFA and MFA U of C students to create an edition of memorable prints to gift speakers and participants at the conference as a reminder of the conference itself, and the beautiful setting of which it took place. Kindred Biomes, an edition of 40 prints, was carefully selected, to represent and memorialize this unique conference and location.

Kindred Biomes visually encapsulates the themes of the 2023 Neuroimmuno-physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract Conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada. By combining inspiration from both the natural flora and fauna of Banff, and cellular imagery from the natural gut flora and the immune system, Kindred Biomes aims to highlight the similarities and connections between the natural biomes of the body and the land. The prints celebrate this conference by emphasizing the importance of the human form and the location we exist in. Kindred Biomes also depicts the Alberta’s provincial flower, the Alberta Wild Rose and the iconic face of Cascade Mountain, both of which are prominent features in Banff’s landscape.

            Each of the 40 prints made are individually hand-printed and contain unique painted elements of which all are varied. Using the Intaglio printmaking process, Kindred Biomes utilizes the copper etching process and the ancient Chinese and Japanese process, Chine-collé.