Press kit - Press release - Tong - Yechel Gagnon

Tong

Montreal, Canada

Yechel Gagnon

Montreal, Canada, 2011-12-04 –

Yechel Gagnon recently created Tong, a large cast aluminium mural for the Licorne Theatre in Montreal. For the first time, she transposes her visual language within the realm of metal work. Gagnon created organic forms evoking movement and fluidity in dialogue with the dense and solid medium and city environment.

The title of the mural Tong, is a Chinese term meaning Together which alludes to the noted adage “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. This is undoubtedly an apt concept to associate with the Art of theatre. Indeed, a theatre play requires a strong collective effort to produce and it is as a group that we experience it as spectators.

Creating public art projects triggers many new avenues in Yechel Gagnon’s production. For the Licorne Theatre, Gagnon had to question materiality in an entirely new way in order to create a work that would sustain the harsh exterior conditions. After an extensive research period of experimenting with numerous materials, she found a technique to transfer her visual language, usually associated with plywood bas-reliefs, into cast aluminium, adding yet another layer of complexity to her practice.

Yechel Gagnon is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and completed a Master of Fine Arts from Concordia University. Her work consists of prints, drawings, bas-reliefs and architectural installations. These different approaches and techniques invites the viewer into an enigmatic and contemplative realm. She exhibits her work in Canada, the United States and France. Gagnon is represented by Newzones Contemporary Art Gallery in Calgary, Moore Gallery in Toronto and Cynthia Reeves in New Hampshire. She will be presenting a solo exhibition at the Moore Gallery in Autumn 2012.

For all their significant contribution, the artist would like to thank Alexandre Masino, Cléo Binette, Gisèle Millet, Christian Miron, Yan Giguère and the team at the foundry Atelier de Bronze in Inverness: Jean-François Gagnon, Bruno Goulet, Steve Giguère and Etienne Roussy.

Yechel Gagnon
Tong, 2011
Cast aluminium
247” x 107”

Théâtre La Licorne
4559, avenue Papineau
Montréal, Québec
Les Architectes FABG

– 30 –