Life takes us on a journey. The diversity of experience we gain creates a rich tapestry to draw from, so as we continue to move forward in our lives, encountering new events, we can then draw from this tapestry to make good choices and take action on them. Sometimes what we have experienced is so momentous that it inspires us to take action, and create a new space of growth in the world.
STIGMA invites you to contemplate the nature of your own humanity. Pascal Proteau creates art works of strong visual form which reflect his internal experience. He struggles to be able to articulate this experience, but the organic nature of these forms speaks loudly.
He asks you simply to allow yourself to reflect on his experience, your own and others. His wish is to open communication, start a conversation, nurture a space, from which grows empathy and compassion towards those living with mental instability. He encourages us to talk openly about our lived experiences, have the courage to dance in this conversation, feel no shame, and know that it is an aspect of humanity which will touch most of us in our lifetime. To be able to diffuse the shame and loneliness of mental instability would be a magnificent space to grow human connectedness. Pascal works with many different types of timbers and old, obsolete tools to create art works that are desirable and tactile. He is powerfully drawn to create works that
explore force and capture both motion and process, in their state of flux. The timber and tools used are all salvaged and layered with imperfections; grime, dust, dents and cracks. He is attracted to their structural strength, their clever functionality, and their many years of history, their abandonment and ultimately their vulnerable discarded states. It is this duality of past and present states that he connects to the experience of living with mental instability.
Through his sculptural processes he brings out the beauty of the object, inviting you to look deeper and notice the details.
STIGMA is a show about starting a conversation, and creating a space of growth. From this conversation, and in this space, human connectedness’ can propagate.
Pascal has grown immensely though facing and dealing with his mental instability. It required much personal courage to start this massive journey, from which he has never looked back. It has taken him to many spaces, but with time it has brought him peace and strength. It is from this strength that he encourages you to participate in creating a mentally healthy community, to create a new awareness, a place of generosity – a life without stigma, a life without separation or shame, a life with respect, compassion and honor for each and every one of us.
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