Najet Ghanai
Vancouver, BC
On the east coast, the availability of clementines (imported from Morocco and Spain) represent the change of season, while the act of peeling releases an intoxicating aroma forever intertwined with the familiarity and comfort of home.
A Canadian-Libyan artist from Halifax, Najet currently resides in Vancouver. Her interest in sculpture, installation art and product design led to an Interdisciplinary BFA at NSCAD. She’s currently developing her craft from within Vancouver's film and television industry as a Scenic Sculptor and Metal Fabricator.
Clementina, constructed of powder-coated steel, epoxy resin, and electrical components, forms a peeled clementine lantern that shines after dark. By integrating the aesthetic of North African brass work with the Maritime symbol of the lighthouse, Ghanai explores the complexities of feeling at home in a new and unforgiving city through the lens of her own mixed-race experience.