But the iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy, and deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit of perpetuity.

– Sir Thomas Browne, from Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial (1658)

The Or Gallery is pleased to present work by Vancouver artist Christian Pelech as its contribution to Thru the Trapdoor, a 5-day art event located in the former Aldebridge Mini-storage at 1965 Main Street, a building that has housed VIVO Media Arts (formerly Video In Studios and Video Out Distribution), ON MAIN, Gallery 1965, New Forms Festival, and many other organizations and artists.

Pelech’s drawing, excerpt from An Abridged History of Death and Taxes pgs. 29-43 (2014, pencil on tax ledger) is a year long meditation on the various representations of death, in dialogue with the writings of Sir Thomas Browne. The work forms part three of the Or Gallery’s ongoing Death & Objects series of exhibitions dealing with the still life, sculpture, and momento mori. This project was curated by Or Gallery Director/Curator Jonathan Middleton on the occasion of the demise of this important arts facility in Vancouver, and the specific context of the Aldebridge Mini-storage, a site that was left with many personal artifacts, left or abandoned by their previous owners.