Ship Shape by Stefan Hancherow

Stefan Hancherow, Ship Shape (detail) 2010

Ship Shape offers a conceptual portrait of MSVU Art Gallery and its profile within the local visual arts community. In this floor-to-ceiling mural located in the Art Gallery Vestibule, Stefan Hancherow appropriates the dazzle camouflage paint scheme used by Allied navies—a gesture towards the history of Bedford Basin, where navy ships frequently pass in and out of the view from the gallery.

Rendered in various shades and finishes of white paint, the intricate pattern of geometric shapes reflects and refracts the coloured lights installed in the vestibule. The optical phenomena shift and change as the viewer moves around the space, an effect enhanced by fluctuations in natural light.

The Vestibule sets the stage for entrance to the gallery where the dazzle motif re-orients and skews the viewer’s perception, complementing MSVU Art Gallery’s distinctive approach to programming.