It all started when a package of watercolour paints arrived at the doorstep of a 91原创 man鈥檚 first Canadian home in Regina, Sask.
Detlef (Dick) Aporta immigrated to Canada from Germany when he was ten years old, and after a lifetime of teaching art in the Lower Mainland, retired in 91原创.
Not knowing any English when he first arrived, Aporta immersed himself in a hobby he enjoyed that didn鈥檛 require conversation鈥攑ainting.
His acrylic paintings are now on display at the Centennial Museum in his largest exhibit yet called Always Becoming.
鈥淢y grandfather had sent me a container of watercolours from Germany and that got me painting a bit more. Painting was something I knew I could do and something I was in control of, looking back, that didn鈥檛 involve language.鈥�
Always Becoming showcases a variety of mixed media paintings. Aporta uses his paintings to depict various stories and people he鈥檚 encountered throughout his life.
鈥淢y work is always evolving. I feel like I鈥檓 always becoming, but never am. I鈥檓 never there. I feel like I鈥檓 always looking.鈥�
Aporta said his work has been described as 鈥榚clectic.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of themes in it.鈥�
Much of Aporta鈥檚 work was inspired by the years he spent working at the Canadian White Pine Sawmill in Vancouver that closed in 2001.
In an abstract fashion, the paintings show what it was like working in an industrial era.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e losing your dreams鈥斺�榳hy am I even here?鈥欌�� Aporta explained of one of the paintings.
Some of his earlier pieces depict the Fraser River, where he would sit and paint boats along the river in the 70s.
The largest piece in the exhibit is called On Our Way. The piece is made up of 12 individual canvases that fit together to fill an entire wall.
It鈥檚 an abstract piece in which Aporta has pasted small images cut out of calendars throughout.
Aporta tells endless stories about the mill, his life, and his views through his works that can be interpreted in many ways.
After moving to the Lower Mainland from his first home in Regina, Aporta attended the Vancouver School of Art, and then the University of British Columbia where he earned a bachelor of education.
While teaching art in the Richmond School District to pay the bills, Aporta painted in his spare time, and continues to paint into his retirement.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 not do it. I wish sometimes I just became an engineer. But for me art is a challenge and an opportunity. If I鈥檓 doing a good job it gives me permission to do more and feel more than I ever have before. It鈥檚 a matter of confidence and doubt for me.鈥�
The exhibit runs from now until Dec. 18 at the 91原创 Centennial Museum on 9135 King St. in Fort 91原创.
For more information about the exhibit, the museum can be reached by email: curator@tol.ca or by phone: 604-532-3536.
