Les lignes contours

(Contour Lines)

2023

Posters (nautical charts, topographic maps, forest maps, and geographic maps), acid-free vinyl adhesive, graphite lead, cotton.

Dimensions : 176 cm each, height from 26 cm to 86 cm.

Using a simple pair of scissors, I explored the repetitive process of cutting several hundred samples along the same contour line, namely the silhouette of my daughter who became the matrix for this project. Like an embrace, I traced the contour line by hand, one at a time. I then juxtaposed the repetitive strips of paper on a flat surface, forming growth lines, watery waves, landscapes, and even geological strata. The large-format paper stock comes from archive weeding: topographic, forest, and nautical maps and charts. They feature bright colours, from forest green to navy blue, technical information, and city names, among other aspects. The large-format mural collage reminds of a map of the world, and the layers of the collage evoke a quilt.