René Francisco Rodriguez, Agua Benita (2007), colour photograph [Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC, Jan 30-May 24] Courtesy of the artist

Annie Pootoogook, Brief Case (2005), lithograph [Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC, Jan 30-May 24] Courtesy of the artist and Feheley Fine Art, Toronto

Assume Nothing: New Social Practice is a major group exhibition and event with the work of 16 artists and artist collectives shown over a period of 115 days. Sculptures, videos, drawings, paintings, films, performances, Internet art and soundworks explore the expanding field of “socially engaged” art.

The international selection consists of artwork from North America, the United Kingdom, continental Europe and Cuba that has a focus on human relations and their social context. The artists and collectives chosen for the prestigious event are Mowry Baden, John G Boehme, Mark Dion, Jamie Drouin, Harrell Fletcher, Instant Coffee, Runa Islam, Nils Norman, Annie Pootoogook, René Francisco Rodriguez, Superflex, Jackson 2bears, Andrea Walsh, Robert Wise, Haegue Yang, and Artur Zmijewski.

Located at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and throughout Victoria’s downtown core in Market Square, Chinatown and Beacon Hill Park, the artwork and projects demonstrate ways in which public spaces can be exploited and manipulated socially, artistically and dynamically. Related events include a symposium, film screenings, music and stage performances, demonstrations, family fun, artist talks and walking tours. A map and event guide can be downloaded from http://aggv.bc.ca/pdfs/AssumeNothing-map.pdf

www.aggv.bc.ca