Chosen Family

This summer, an animation of Chosen Family, a permanent installation in Halifax/Kjipuktuk by non-binary, transgender and queer artist Mr. Margot Durling will be adapted to illuminate the Kipnes Lantern. The vibrant work is a colourful celebration of gender identities, sexualities, and relationships.

Durling is a visual artist and Creative Director at Fathom Studio in Dartmouth who were recently shortlisted to design a National Monument for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Ottawa.

For the original installation (at the Halifax Common), Durling playfully altered the traditional female and male symbols to create a colourful alphabet—a universal language that speaks to our interconnectedness.

“The whole idea behind the installation is to invite people to think beyond the binary. While the term non-binary is relatively new, gender non-conforming people have actually existed for a long time,” explained Durling, who uses they/them pronouns.

Positive representations can play an important role in creating an environment of acceptance, inclusion and belonging—especially for those who have historically been excluded, marginalized, or misrepresented.