Melanie Goguen :Attempted Murder

Attempted Murder
MELANIE GOGUEN

SOLO SHOW

13 – 26 APRIL 2023
GALLERIE LEE MATA

SI GALLERY
35 RUE GEORGE STREET, OTTAWA ONTARIO

VERNISSAGE:
THURS. 13 APR 6PM – 8PM
JEU. LE 13 AVRIL DE 18H A 204

In my artistic practice, my most urgent questions tend to be about interconnectedness and relationships – those we have with ourselves, each other, and the environment. My representational work often has a narrative quality, likely influenced by my interest in literature, performance art, and the storytelling traditions of my east-coast family. I create imaginary lives and stories for my subjects, extending their worlds beyond the image. This allows me to explore emotional truths through fiction and metaphor. I also like to find some humour, even in dark subjects, and am not above a bit of word play.

With “Attempted Murder” I use the imagery of crows to explore my own connection to the environment and my uncertainty about our society’s future. Playing with the common plural noun for a gathering of crows, the title makes reference to our society’s often toxic effects. The works collected here were created during a period when I was coming to grips with my own anxieties about the pandemic, climate change, and war in the news. The figurative pieces on display, mainly prints but also paintings and sculptures, are each informed by my response to world events or a moment in my personal life (and sometimes both).

I have always been fascinated by the mythologies and symbolism of crows and other corvids (the family that includes crows, ravens and jays). Corvids are tricksters and creative spirits in some traditions, harbingers of death in others. The crows in my collection are messengers and agents of transformation. They encourage us to think about our interconnectedness and warn that we may cause our own destruction. Ultimately, I hope viewers reflect on their own relationships and take steps towards a more sustainable and harmonious future.

About the artist: Originally from Newfoundland, Melanie Goguen is an interdisciplinary artist working in painting, sculpture and print-making as well as creative writing and aerial dance. She is a member of the Ottawa-Gatineau Printmakers Connective (OGPC) , ArtEast Ottawa and Alloy art collective. This year Melanie will complete her diploma in Fine Arts at the Ottawa School of Art. She lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario, located on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation and is also a resident of New Zealand/Aotearoa.

For purchase queries please contact the artist: MelanieGoguen@gmail.com