February 8 to March 24, 2024
Steven Heinemann & Linda Swanson
Chung-Im Kim & Mylène Michaud
Lizz Aston & Eruoma Awashish
La Guilde is proud to present Deux par deux, a group exhibition featuring the work of six artists: Steven Heinemann, Linda Swanson, Chung-Im Kim, Mylène Michaud, Lizz Aston, and Eruoma Awashish. A selection of works emblematic of their respective artistic practices is presented in rotation and within multiple pairings throughout the run of the exhibition.
Exploring a medium, even in all its contradictions and limitations, offers unsuspected potential for creative freedom. These artists’ devotion to materialities makes space for a complex dialogue between form and meaning.
It is in this universe that connections are formed between different artistic approaches: conversations seem to emerge naturally, sometimes providing alternative or more in-depth understandings of the works. This exhibition highlights this aesthetic and ideological dialogue between two artists.These duos offer not only a fresh look at the works, but also a broader conversation about contemporary art: what place does fine craft occupy in the wider world of contemporary visual art? Where do contemporary ‘craft’ and ‘art’ practices meet? Here, the creative spirit and expertise with the medium collide and invite deeper looking and reflection on these practices.
THE ARTISTS
Steven Heinemann & Linda Swanson (ceramics)
These two ceramic artists are established figures in the Canadian fine crafts scene. Their use of the medium diverges from traditional pottery, veering instead towards varied artistic expressions such as sculpture and installation. Linda Swanson explores the metamorphic qualities of ceramics, paying homage to the enigmatic forces of nature. As for Steven Heinemann, his interest in the medium's possibilities is reflected in pieces that borrow from both well-known visual elements and abstraction. The sometimes circular, sometimes oval shapes of their works create a vivid and striking language, illustrating the unexpected possibilities offered by clay.
Chung-Im Kim & Mylène Michaud (textiles)
The works of Mylène Michaud and Chung-Im Kim complement each other in their similarities and opposites. Both textile artists use geometry to create contemporary pieces without abandoning traditional know-how. They draw their inspiration from surroundings that are familiar to them, although their subjects are fundamentally different. Mylène Michaud uses satellite images to depict fields or urban environments from a bird's-eye view, illustrating the patterns created by human intervention on the environment. As for Chung-Im Kim, she embraces the forms created by flora and fauna, drawing on what the Ontario countryside has to offer. Both artists' approaches question the delicate relationship between humans and nature, past and future.
Lizz Aston et Eruoma Awashish (paper | painting)
Lizz Aston is a textile and fine craft artist, and Eruoma Awashish, an Atikamekw visual artist. Although they have their respective artistic practices, their works share many formal affinities, naturally creating aesthetic conversations. While they both exploit the notion of symmetry—in the manner of Rorschach tests—their approaches take different paths. Lizz Aston is interested in the amalgam between traditional technique and digital technology. For Eruoma Awashish, the mix is rather cultural, employing a symbolic universe specific to the Atikamekw nation. These two contemporary artists offer colorful works that question our relationship with time and our intellectual heritage.