Thought-provoking art greets visitors at YLW

A Shuswap artist hopes to capture the attention of travellers at Kelowna International Airport.

Above the airline check-in area, visitors can now see a series of paintings by Salmon Arm-based artist Steve Mennie featured in the 40-foot-long exhibition space organized by the Kelowna Art Gallery.

Titled Semiotically Speaking, the works highlight the artist’s interest in signs and symbols (semiotics) and take a closer look at how we use them to communicate ideas.

Steve Mennie’s Semiotically Speaking at Kelowna International Airport (photo credit: Kelowna Art Gallery)

Airport visitors will see examples of common road signs that, when taken out of their regular context, may cause them to scratch their heads and think, “how’d we ever decide that this is supposed to represent this idea?”

To add to his examination of symbols, Mennie has included his own playful commentary in the form of text-based painted signage.

“Through his stylistic approach rooted in realism and his unique sense of humour, Mennie challenges viewers to interpret the meaning behind the icons, imagery, and text present on the everyday signs we encounter,” a news release from the art gallery stated.

Semiotically Speaking is presented at the Kelowna International Airport until June of 2024.

Born in Revelstoke, B.C., Mennie completed his formal studies at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University). Afterwards, he worked for many years as a freelance illustrator and commercial artist in Toronto.

Mennie later returned to British Columbia, where he began his career painting “en plein air.” He has twice been commissioned by Canada Post to design commemorative postage stamps.

Steve Mennie’s Ways of Seeing, Ways of Being. (courtesy of the artist)