Micropolis 2.0 is a multimedia universe made of silkscreen cutouts and digital prints that explores urban life and the relationships between people and large cities. This work of wonder, as Québécois artists Allison Moore and Arthur Desmarteaux call it, is on at SNAP Gallery in Edmonton through early July.
It’s an evolving installation of collaged screen and digital prints, assembled to evoke a busy commercial street with pedestrians, creatures and vehicles, inspired by the cityscapes of Québec City, Montréal and Toronto.
The diorama also includes sections of woodcuts and LCD video screens in the “building windows” showing animated loops and an accompanying soundtrack.
The artists say the project “is intended to convey a sense of wonder, awe and contemplation. Looking though the microscope, viewers are drawn in a god-like perspective, entering a strange theatrical dimension.”
Allison Moore is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Vancouver Island, now located in Montréal. She has produced projects in Ecuador, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Her website is here.
Arthur Desmarteaux obtained a BFA in media & visual arts from University of Québec in Montréal. He is an active member of Graff Studios in Montreal, ARPRIM [Association for the promotion of Printed Arts in Québec] and the Puppet Association of Québec. His website is here.
For a PDF brochure from the exhibition at Open Studio, Toronto earlier this year, click here.
Images from Looper.ca
[NOTE: A couple of days after this was posted, Allison Moore, one of the artists, left this comment and link. I copied it up here because I didn't want it to go unnoticed among all the other comments]
Hello everybody, thank you for the great comments! We really appreciate the feedback. Please check out our blog for more updates and info: http://egotripproductions.org/
Whimsy, satire, social commentary–wonderful.
Yes, it’s very innovative, isn’t it?
Yes…reminds me of a comic book.
so cool!
I agree, glad you liked it.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Did I mention how much I love these??? I can’t wait to show them to my students! What a great installation!
Very clear how much you love it! So glad. Enjoy with your students.
Terrific!!!
Very glad you enjoyed it. Marvellous, isn’t it.
Wow. I love artwork that allows you to go back again and again, each time seeing different things. I can imagine this work would inspire countless new discoveries with each view!
It’s true that you see something different every time you look. So packed with visuals.
WOW! love the brilliant colors! Really opos out at you and gives the images visual motion!
I’m with you on the colors, and especially the motion. That guy in the hat stepping up and out is so fluid, he’s actually moving, to me.
Love it.
Great, so glad you stopped by. Thanks.
Brilliant!
http://journeythroughhtml.wordpress.com/
I agree. I think a lot of this duo’s work is brilliant.
Amazing details and so full of life like the street would be.
Exactly what the streets would be, kind of a snapshot of various streetscapes. I like how they integrated elements of all three cities.
I stared at each photo for awhile- so intriguing and unique. I’m sure in person it’s incredible- thanks for sharing!
I know exactly what you mean about staring. It’s very compelling and intricate.
Fascinating work. This truly stands out and truthfully i have never seen anything like it. I always say originality is what makes an artist be appreciated for their work and this is it. I love the way you captured the emotion and realism and expressed that through your eyes as art. I say this as a fellow artist all though i only sketch for fun and creation. Great work though -,o
http://wp.me/2aAA8
Thanks very much for the comment, their work truly is unique, as you say.
Darn it! I will miss the show in Edmonton by a couple weeks!
It appears to be popular enough that it might come back by you at some point, somewhere.
Really great work! Tons of character that I think is lacking in modern artwork. Check out my blog too. It’s a great resource for artists who need to metal plate their stuff. We are as proud of our work as you must be of yours!
http://thebronzeryblog.wordpress.com/
Yes I agree on how it’s filled with character. These artists are an amazing duo.
Wonderful expressions! love it!
Yes, aren’t the characters amazing, too? Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I’m surprised by my reaction! I love them.. Normally I enjoy the traditional, and yet I find something so very real and honest within their work. Well done!
I find that interesting, but not overly surprising, because my own reaction was similar. I think it’s that these themes, characters and streetscapes really are universal, no matter what your taste. This is an exceedingly talented duo. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I think it’s absolutely charming!
I so agree, and think these two must have incredible imaginations.
Always such unique art produced by artists in Montreal.
That is such a good point. Another post that has created a buzz like this one was Jannick Deslauriers’ fabric sculptures http://bit.ly/wGOAWF You’re right. The city is an incubator for many things outside the box. Thanks.
Reblogged this on Canadian Heritage Club.
Thank you for the re-blog. Neat site you have.
Beautiful stuff.
So glad you enjoyed it (loved your prescriptive linguist post)
People-watching and art at the same time! Perfect.
Great observation. You’re right and it’s probably a big part of the appeal.
great to watch….
I totally agree. It’s quite arresting. Thanks.
Great arts! For one second, the “people” cutouts seem so alive with an incredible shadow-play. And the details? Amazing. Thanks for sharing this beautiful arts. Love it!
So true about the people seeming alive. They are multi-dimensional and so creative. But you’re right, they also seem to move. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!
♥ Love and light ♥
~ Jennifer
Oh you’re so welcome, appreciated
Like like like
Larva
http://www.larvamedia.wordpress.com
Well good, good, good – glad you enjoyed!
Congrats. on being Freshly Pressed again!
Thank you so much. I was thinking in the midst of all this how wonderful it is that so many people are getting to know more about Canadian art, which is why I wanted to do this in the first place. But also I was thinking how much I appreciate the people like you who have been with me from the beginning and so supportive. I remember you were the very first person who left a significant comment. It was about Pierre Trudeau on the the canoe tripping post last summer. I really appreciate you guys.
How absolutely spectacular this is! I love it. Thanks so much for sharing. How I love WordPress as it introduces us to so many new and wonderful things to experience.
You Matter! Smiles, Nancy
I agree with you about how WP spreads the wonder! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your thoughts.
Classic!!!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Amazing …!! Its wonderful.Great art
It really is special, isn’t it. Thanks for visiting.
done with such pietism….love for life in general. and good art-work if I can judge. thank You.
I agree, it has a special kind of joy. Appreciated.
Its wonderful..I love this sort of innovative work
Me too, and as one of the other commenters said, Montreal remains a strong centre of art innovation here in Canada. Thanks for stopping by.
Interesting!
You can say that again! Never seen anything like it. Thanks.
Awesome work and thanks for presenting.
You’re so welcome. Happy to spread the word on this one.
This is brilliant. Nice job on Freshly Pressed
Thanks re Freshly Pressed, and very glad you came and saw!
This is more than just good, original art. By combining separate images and lining them up as a city street, new possibilities are realized. A “building” could be condemned and another put up in its place in no time at all, without having to worry about actual construction costs or zoning restrictions, in a continual process until the representation of a realistic city is replaced by the representation of a utopian city, an urban paradise. Sort of like Second Life or Sim City, but not on a computer.
I’m not saying that is the artist’s intent and I admit that I’m no artist. Just raising the possibility.
You are so on target. Exactly. Allison Moore says she and her artist partner change the look and feel and functionality of the installation each time they do an exhibit, including this time, when they’ve actually installed a running model of the Montréal metro travelling underground – or rather under the sill (sidewalk) of the streetscape. In other words, as you say, their city changes just as a real city would change. And I agree with you that it’s way more than just good, original art. Thank you for taking the time to share those spot on observations.
This artwork is absolutely incredible. Such talent!
Such talent is absolutely bang on. They also do shadow performances http://vimeo.com/22064476 and video installations
This is great. I wish I could trip out to see it.
I think this will be making the exhibition rounds for some time, partly because they renew it for every show. Thanks for the coment.
That was fun. Congrats on being freshly pressed.
Thanks. I’m so glad you had fun. People should, with art.
That is fantastic! Great style.
It is very stylish, isn’t it? Thanks for your comment.
I could recognize parts of my own city in it, ha ha.
Honestly, I think the artists want everyone to recognize something familiar in it, whether it’s your own city, or someplace else you’ve been.
Allison and Arthur’s work is so fun! The tongue-in-cheek vibe and intricate detail remind me of another Canadian artist, Chris Millar.
I just saw an exhibition of his work at the Alberta Art Gallery and fell totally in love. I found all sorts of cultural commentary in his pieces from the Edmonton Oilers to oilpatch attitudes. In order to see all the intricacies, the AGA had several big magnifying glasses available for a deeper look. He might be worth looking into for a future post
That’s a great suggestion. I had heard of him, seen a bit of his work, and I know he’s part of the Oh Canada exhibition at MASS MoCA in the U.S. right now. But it was your comment about the cultural commentary — and the magnifying glass – - that makes me think I should take a closer look. Really appreciate that. Thanks.
Huuumt nice art
Glad you enjoyed it then. Thanks for visiting.
Una obra estupenda!!!
Sí, una obra insólita. Gracias
Hello everybody, thank you for the great comments! We really appreciate the feedback. Please check out our blog for more updates and info: http://egotripproductions.org/
Reblogged this on The Scholar Chronicles.
Thanks very much for the reblog.
Welcome. Love to share it!
Reblogged this on doodlejuice.
Great, thank you.
Beautiful and fascinating blog…
So then I’m glad you found us. Thank you.
I think they must have some crazy sketchbooks…..!
That’s a great point. They’d be so interesting. Thanks.
great post
thanks for sharing
Welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.