Livart
September 24 to November 1, 2026
Director : Cindy Tessier-Trudeau
3980, rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC, H2W 2M2
514.880.3980
Exhibition:
This World of Shapes
Jeanie Riddle
Jeanie Riddle: Hermanita (almost two years), 2025 Acrylique sur toile / acrylic on canvas 164.6 x 121.92cm
For my exhibition at LIVART, I aim to stage the concept of “home.” I will begin by gathering a collection of upcycled objects, including furnishings and imagery, and then deconstruct and modify these materials to complement my paintings, sculptures, and installations. The gallery will serve as the primary canvas for an installation that oscillates between strict formalism and the potential of expanded painting, as well as a staged representation of a lived space.
Using my curated inventory of “looked-for materials,” the formal compositions will act as stills of domesticity and decoration, questioning the authenticity of objects that have been enhanced, modified, or grouped in contrasting ways—the interplay of the hard and soft elements. A crucial aspect of this work involves the initial manipulation of the floor and walls; the positioning of objects and application of color will invigorate the gallery's surfaces, transforming the traditional white box.
Working site-specifically, I will paint various areas of the gallery and strategically place multiple objects and constructions within this imagined space. This “real life” expanded painting will engage viewers as active participants, transforming the mundane into the exuberant. It subverts the often-overlooked sights of domesticity, presenting their potential through my lens and exploring the nature of the domestic within the gallery context.
I embrace the possibilities of engaging with themes associated with phenomenology and narrative, particularly in relation to the feminine—décor, domestic arrangements, beauty. This approach subverts the conventional use of tender personal narratives to construct formal content in exhibitions (e.g., Tracey Emin, Lily Van der Stokker, Ree Morton). My intention is clear: the material manifestations and object choices are specific and deliberate, allowing for precise selection and citation as integral components of the artistic experience. This project invites an intimate dialogue between the artwork, the maker, and the viewer.