Artist Statement
Chantey Dayal grew up in a matriarchy, surrounded by women who endured great struggles of survival and displacement. These experiences instilled a search for beauty and brought out a generosity in the mothers, aunties, and cousins she grew up with. Through colour, texture, smell, language, and song, Chantey developed an unwavering lookout for delight, and learned to navigate the complex dynamics of love and family. It is from this place that her work is informed.
Chantey’s paintings are earnest celebrations of life, layered both literally, through her painting process, and figuratively, through a lifelong search for identity and place. Movement and sound bookend her studio practice, with heavy bass rhythms and free form dance acting as her gateway to the canvas. Starting from abstract beginnings and playfully drawing from her cultural roots, she incorporates contrast, colour, and shape into recognizable forms themed on women, nature, patterns, and the traditional unceded territory she calls home.
Artist Bio
Chantey Dayal gratefully lives and makes art in Quw’utsun’ mustimuhw Territory. She is a colour addict, a stargazer, a plant lover, a meal maker, a conscious dancer, and is always on the lookout for delight. As a first generation Canadian of Indian and Middle Eastern descent, Chantey’s art incorporates values drawn from her cultural heritage, and strikes the viewer through a bold use of colour, shape, and contrast. She is often steeped in poetry, mythology, rhythm, ritual, and the fables of faraway places. This ignites and compels her towards all that is deeply feminine and life-giving.
