François MÉCHAIN

Residence at the Saint-Norbert Arts and Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Canada,
from 17 june - 02 july 1996.
Exhibition at the winnipeg Art Gallery until 13 October.

About the history of the Prairies, it appears to me that the practices of nomadism and cross-cultural fusion have been ever present So, the Aboriginals, then came white settlement and with it the notion of "elsewhere". With each wave of immigration came a new common identity. Louis Riel, a "half-breed" remains a symbol. Recently, in Toronto, I produced a sculptural haîku. Here my challenge was to make do with less, that is to say using only the elements I could gather on the spot, and none other. More Broadly speaking, this project explores themes relating to the experience of alterity; through the use of native organic and inorganic materials - wood and minerals - this sculpture intends openness to integration and reciprocity. In my photographic interpretation, depth-of-field is proposed as a possible nomadism of the eve, a cross-cultural interpretation.

F.M.

haîku : a short japanese poem.

This exhibit has been made possible with the assistance of the department of Foreign Affairs and international Trade of Canada, the department of Foreign Affairs of France and the Aide Française à l'Action Artistique.
We also acknoledge with gratitude the support of WH & SE Lœwen Foundation and the Manitoba Arts Councils.