Ron Benner
Baia de Cochinos/Bay of Pigs
Mixed-media Intallation
West Gallery

Canadian Artist

PRESS RELEASE

The mixed media photographic installations of London Ontario artist Ron Benner frequently utilize two basic devices, black and white photo-murals and one or more real objects on the floor. Baia de Cochinos/ Bay of Pigs, his installation at Mercer Union, incorporates photographs taken in Playa Larga, Bay of Pigs, Cuba in 1984 and 1987, and represents four years of work in progress.

Benner's work has continued to challenge the political assumptions affecting western attitudes toward Third World countries. His installations document his travels and investigation into the reality in which those of a Third World country live, offering a historical and cultural perspective which is neither sentimental nor propagandistic. Through a compassionate identification with victims of injustice, he produces powerful photographic installations in which the opposing values are revealed, and the resulting cultural conflict is exposed.

Ron Benner has participated in solo and group exhibitions throughout Ontario; Saskatoon; Montreal; Havana, Cuba; and Yucatan, Mexico, since 1973. Baia de Cochinos/Bay of Pigs opens Tuesday October 11, 8:00 pm in Mercer Union's West Gallery and continues through Saturday November 5. The artist will be present for the opening.

A talk by exhibiting artist Ron Benner will take place at Mercer Union in conjunction with the artist's exhibition, Wednesday October 12 at 7:30 pm. The talk will focus on the development of the artist's work in relationship to his current work on exhibition.