Two Vancouver-based artists, Emilie Fantuz and Gillian Richards, are showcasing their work in a joint exhibition titled "Liminal City" at the Pendulum Gallery in downtown Vancouver. The show explores the effects of light and shadow in painting, with Fantuz focusing on what she calls "optical debris"—bursts of light and shadows that fracture contemporary vision—while Richards highlights transitional urban spaces and functional architecture, elevating overlooked everyday scenes. Fantuz, who is completing her MFA at Emily Carr University, has shifted from detailed neighborhood paintings to abstract studies of light and perception, often filtered through windows and screens. Richards, a former scenic artist in the film industry, uses photography as a starting point to capture intimate views of utilitarian structures.
The exhibition matters because it offers a timely meditation on how digital and physical environments shape human perception, a theme increasingly relevant in an age of constant screen-based interaction. By pairing two distinct yet complementary approaches to light, "Liminal City" invites viewers to reconsider the beauty and instability of everyday visual experience, from the glow of a street sign to the shifting light in a studio window. The show also highlights the vibrant contemporary art scene in Vancouver and the creative dialogues emerging from local artists.