2023

 

The General Store is a visual arts project surveying the commodification of the natural world within outdoor recreation and tourism culture. The initiative was started by artists Nahanni Mckay and Ben Evely, in their hometown of Banff, Canada on Treaty 7 Territory.

 

Through a critical and humourous lens, the duo create playful reproductions of commodities you might find in a gift shop. The work deconstructs cultural trends inspired by nature, while exploring wilderness aesthetics. Intending to encourage dialogue within outdoor recreation and tourism communities.

 

The broadly titled General Store leaves space for various iterations in shifting contexts. Open to collaboration between community members, and for the evolution of the project over time.

​The intention for this project is to create a positive impact on how people engage with tourism and outdoor recreation. Put a critical lens on outdoor recreation and tourism within the Banff area. Use humour and satire to critique normalised practices in the tourism industry. Make a subversive gift shop. Go beyond criticism and have a lasting impact backed up by tangible initiatives.

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All photographs are available in multiple sizes. Please inquire for purchase.