Collection: Party Animals | Solo Marilyne Bissonnette

Once upon a time... This introductory phrase, famous in the literary genre of fairy tales, leaves a lasting impression on the young and continues its evocative work in the minds of the not-so-young, in the form of a constant invitation to reverie, amusement, and wonder. Marilyne Bissonnette undeniably summons this universe; she follows its structural and semantic logic and transposes it into sculptural works that explore the constant ambivalence between the notion of pleasure and the harshness of life.

To mention "fairy tale" is to evoke "ambivalence," thus a dual narrative aim. The first, initiated by the iconic perception of the work, leads us to recognize the forms, here hares or rabbits, there parakeets. These animals evoke sympathy through their softness or colors, through the proximity we have to them linked to domesticity; they accompany us and bring us joy. The installation "Pains and Exaltations" presents a large table on which rabbits are placed amidst atypical vegetation composed of body fragments. The scene is strange because it is both funny, seductive, and disturbing. This is because the anthropomorphic posture of the rabbits and the presence of fragmentation evoke a second narrative aim, that of interpretive reading targeting a critique of man's tendency to neglect and harm wildlife, but also to take possession of these animals without respect and consideration for the sacred dimension of life. Does only utility matter? The sheep wool sculptures of "The Next" are tagged, as herds might be marked as a sign of belonging to an owner. The mink banners of "The Feast," on the other hand, recall the collars worn by the wealthiest women, a mark of affluence and prestige. And what about the pile of parakeets in "The Order" that seem enclosed in too small a space! 

Under the guise of a festive spirit and a childlike aesthetic, at what price are we willing to sacrifice the satisfaction of our desires and comfort? If the artist maintains the ambivalence between the sensitive and the insensitive, she does not fall into clichés, neither naive nor threatening. The call for vigilance and respect for life is made according to the subtle rules of the tale which she reappropriates and which consist of entertaining, amusing, and marveling while also calling for awareness of our actions.

Text by Emilie Granjon