My artistic background is rooted in photography, printmaking, and traditional crafts. I have worked in each medium and see them as equal forms of expression; each informing me of who I am as an Onkwehónwe (Indigenous) artist. My journey, as a Kanien’keháka (Mohawk) person and creative person, is to be cognizant of the influences of contemporary culture, media, and Indigenous history in my artistic practice. I strive to be a conduit for this flood of information and feed it into my personal artistic expression. Bits and pieces, fragments and clues can be found in our everyday conversations and incorporated into metaphoric symbolism -my own personal iconography. My goal is to weave this energy into my imagery as a way of satisfying my creative interests and to make a modern signpost…visual marker. I was here. This is what I saw. I am a witness.
Biographie
Martin Akwiranoron Loft
Martin Akwiranoron Loft was born and raised in Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory, on the south shore of Montreal. He is a photographer, printmaker, and craftsperson who began his creative life in photography at 16 when be bought his first 35mm camera. He studied photography/communications at Dawson College and Concordia University. In addition to formal education, he studied printmaking, silver jewelry, and traditional Mohawk crafts with working artists. In the mid 1990s he participated in a workshop with influential National Geographic Explorer, Chris Ranier. He was a founding member of the Native Indian Inuit Photographers Association (NIIPA, 1985-2000) and has exhibited his work both nationally and internationally at suchvenues as at the National Museum of the American Indian(Smithsonian) Canadian Museum of History, Indigenous Art Centre, Iroquois Indian Museum, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, McCord Museum of Canadian History, and the Bundeskunsthalle: Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany. His work has been published in Canadian Art Magazine, Chatelaine, numerous catalogues and books. He won 2023 Quebec Community Newspaper Award for best photo essay for his work on the Truth and Reconciliation aka Orange Shirt Day. He has also served as a jury member for the Canada Council for the Arts. Martin had a thirty year career working Kahnawake Cultural Center and Museum as public programs supervisor. He continues to consult, teach, photograph, and do community work within the Montreal Indigenous community and elsewhere.
