She had fallen in love so many times that she began to suspect she was not falling in love at all, but doing something much more ordinary.
– Jonathan Safran Foer

Featuring four Canadian and international artists, Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time explores the theme of failed love. Although this capricious emotion has been the subject of countless songs, films, and novels, this exhibition is particularly interested in the moment love breaks down.

Bringing together a mixture of sculpture, drawing, and video installation, Seemed Like… presents a humourous perspective on failure, rejection, and relationships gone awry. Works by Markus Vater (London), Jon Pylypchuk (Los Angeles/Winnipeg), Aleesa Cohene (Toronto/Berlin), and Alex Da Corte (Philadelphia) investigate the peculiarities of love in a self-deprecating and vulnerable manner. Depictions of futile relationships and longings between humans and animals, inanimate objects, and even supernaturals are represented in the exhibition, as are vague tales of heartbreak and undefined promises of time.

From a story of two lovesick women, to the humiliation of participating in a dating game, the exhibition provides an opportunity for viewers to both wallow and laugh at their own misguided romances. Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time does not bring finality or atonement to the viewer, but perhaps an occasion to remember that maybe things are looking up.

The Or Gallery gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the British Columbia Arts Council, the City of Vancouver, our members, donors, and volunteers. The Or Gallery and Kim Nguyen gratefully acknowledge the additional support of Canada Council for the Arts Assistance to Culturally Diverse Curators for Residencies in the Visual Arts. The Or Gallery is a member of the Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres (PAARC).