Announcement of theme 21 – Plastic
I write these lines on a plastic keyboard, facing a plastic window frame, wearing a plastic sweater with plastic glasses, and drinking from a plastic cup. If I had breast implants, they would also be plastic.
Philippe Allard, view of the exhibition Infiltrations at Musée d'art de Joliette, 2020.
Photo: Paul Litherland.
👉 This month on Quarantined Museum, we invite you to think about a substance—plastic (as you might have guessed). This theme is inspired by the body of work by Philippe Allard now on display at the MAJ. Notably, the artist’s outdoor installation on the glass walls of the Museum! This work, PEHD-19, like many of the other pieces exhibited inside, is composed of recycled plastic taken directly from the sorting centre. The choice of this material draws our attention to its ubiquity in our everyday lives and to consequent issues of waste management.
Philippe Allard, view of the work HDPE-19 on the façade of Musée d'art de Joliette, 2020.
Photo: Paul Litherland.
We invite you to consider the place that plastic occupies in the various spheres of life and art. What plastic items could you not do without? What is your favourite artwork made of plastic? What do you think a archaeologist of the 27th century will discover in the ground of the 21st? What do you think a archaeologist of the 32nd century will discover in the ground of the 27th? Will the Zero Waste movement help us overcome the recycling crisis? Will the current pandemic, with its disposable protective gear, bans on reusable containers in shops, and so on, cancel out recent efforts to mitigate the climate crisis?
Philippe Allard, view of the exhibition Infiltrations at Musée d'art de Joliette, 2020.
Photo: Paul Litherland.
Be creative with plastic you can find at home: polymer clay (FIMO), recycled containers, cellophane, nylon stockings, acrylic paint!
This month on the blog:
➔ Anne-Marie St-Jean Aubre, Curator of Contemporary Art, will speak to us about the ways plastic has changed the course of art history.
➔ Nathalie Galego, Assistant Curator of Collections, will present the work of sculptor Jean Noël.
➔ And a “family special” bioplastic-making activity, prepared by our education department.
Stay tuned!
This article was written by Charlotte Lalou Rousseau, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, Musée d'art de Joliette.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Follow the indications to participate and get your art on this platform. The next deadline is Sunday, February 28, 2021, at noon. The exhibition will be online on Thursday, March 4, 2021.