Wakana Shimamura (b. 1996) is a multidisciplinary artist of Japanese heritage, identifying as Nikkei-Nisei. They live and work on the unceded and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples (Vancouver, Canada).
Using mould making, casting, metal fabrication, textiles, and other techniques of sculpture making, Shimamura's concepts are informed by identity, memory, sensory experiences, and kinship. They continue to investigate their relationship to their heritage by experimenting with traditional Japanese crafting techniques. Other interests include collage in the form of paper, mixed media, digital, sound and video.
Langara Fine Arts graduate, 2024 and is the recipient of the Fine Arts Program Award.
* * *
Group Exhibitions
[2022] Here:There Langara Fine Arts Graduation Exhibition 2022. Online Exhibition, Vancouver, Canada.
[2021] (Re)Visions: Emerging Creators Incubator. Art Gallery at Evergreen, Coquitlam, Canada.
Public Art
[2023-Current] More Than A Hue…, sculpture. Langara College Campus, Vancouver, Canada.
[2022-2023] More Than A Hue…, sculpture. InTransit BC: Canada Line 49th - Langara Station, Vancouver, Canada.
[2021-2022] What?, What Collective, vinyl. InTransit BC: Canada Line 49th - Langara Station, Vancouver, Canada.
[2021-2022] Veiled, sculpture. Campus library, Langara College, Vancouver, Canada.
Artist Residency
[2021] (Re)Visions: Emerging Creators Incubator. Art Gallery at Evergreen, Coquitlam, Canada.
Education
[2024] Fine Arts Diploma. Langara College, Vancouver, Canada.
Awards
[2022] Fine Arts Program Award. Langara College, Vancouver, Canada.
Professional Experience
[2021-Current] Registrar and Preparator, Catriona Jeffries, Vancouver, Canada.
[2024-Current] Museum Assistant (On-Call), Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, Vancvouer, Canada.
[2021-2023] Gallery Technician, Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver, Canada.
[2021-2023] Studio Assistant, Devon Knowles Studio, Vancouver, Canada.
[2023] Freelance Preparator, Afternoon Projects, Vancouver, Canada.
[2023] Stage Assistant, Elizabeth Milton, Performance of Queen Tilly and the Marys (2023), Vivo Media Arts, Vancouver, Canada.
[2022] Stage Assistant, Elizabeth Milton, Production of Queen Tilly the Marys (2023), Russian Hall, Vancouver, Canada.
[2020-2022] Studio Assistant, Fine Arts studios, Student Work Assistance Program, Langara College, Vancouver, Canada.
[2022] Production Designer, Shion Skye Carter, Mayumi Lashbrook, Hitoko Okada, Threading Echoes, Performance, Vancouver, Canada.
[2020-2021] Fabrication, Philip Robbins, Public Art Project, Heat Island, Langara College, Vancouver, Canada.
Professional Activities
[2022-Current] Research Assistant, Canada and the Circular Economy and Makerspaces, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded project, Vancouver, Canada.
[2021-2022] Project Assistant and Design Consultant, Web Development Team, Fine Arts, Vancouver, Canada.
[2020] Front Desk, Volunteer, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada.