Sonia Reboul is a French-Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. For for 12 years, she has developed a body of self-taught art alongside a career in Communications. In 2019, she will begin a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University to further perfect her skills. Since then, her artistic projects have multiplied: she has won three university scholarships selected for residencies and exhibitions at the Centre d’art Jacques-et-Michel-Auger (Carré 150), La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse, Art Matters, Art Souterrain, Galerie VAV, Nouaisons, Université de Montréal. His drawings have been selected for several initiatives, including the COVID collection organized by Sale Caractère, l’Organe magazine. Various blogs (Jano Lapin, Yellow Pad Sessions, The Unicorn Factory, The Soul Food).
Project description
Dialogues stem from the exploration of traditional weaving techniques with fine metal chains sourced from second-hand costume jewellery.
These pieces of jewellery have undergone a transformation akin to a ritual tribute to the people who wore them: first washed, dried and then dismantled, the links are reassembled into chains classified by size and colour, then woven to form small rectangular samples.
These chains, which have already had a first life, symbolize multiple personal histories and the diversity of human bonds. The dialogue between materials illustrates the complexity of relationships, fluctuating between flexibility and rigidity, strength and fragility, preciousness and banality. The slippery and elusive nature of the chain emphasizes the subtleties of human interaction. Beyond the ornamental, Dialogues conjures a metaphorical chain mail armour, evoking social interactions in times of confinement. Crafted from inexpensive jewellery, the work questions the value of human bonds in the context of disposable consumer culture, highlighting neglected social and ecological aspects. The piece also has a social and local dimension, as the materials were sourced from Le Chaînon store, whose mandate has been to help women in difficulty since its inception in 1932. In all, over $400 worth of jewellery was purchased from the welfare association.
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This project was presented in a solo exhibition at La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse and the Creative Re-use: Ø Waste C.R.Ø.W group exhibition. It was supported by the Fine Arts Student Alliance Grant from Concordia University.
Project status:
To date, a first series of samples has been completed, representing a woven surface area of 3,780cm2 (the equivalent of a 62cm by 62cm patchwork quilt).
My ultimate goal would be to weave a surface area totalling 124cm x 180cm, to be able to assemble them into a large quilt. This would require six times as much material as I currently have in stock. I’d also like to make a full-body cast to serve as a support for the quilt.
More on Dialogues: https://soniareboul.com/Dialogues
Credit photo: Sonia Reboul