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Vivant parmi les vivants (Living among the living)


Maison des aînés, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines
Public art (Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture du Québec)
2022





Vivant parmi les vivants is made of four assemblages of photographs distributed among the four households of the Maison des aînés. Representing human interactions with nature, the project proposes a vision of reciprocity, where each individual is there for another and vice versa. Human beings thus appear as living among the living, taking care of their environment, which will return the favour.

Many thanks to Vincent Drouin, Éliane Excoffier, Emilie Rondeau, Sylvain Ruest and François Simard; and also to Andréane Diamond, Isabelle Dombrovski, Maryse Goudreau, Darlene Jerome, Claire Moeder, Sarah Nellis, Mélanie Rousseau, Élodie Samuel-Leduc, Lyne Sexton, Donna St-Onge and Anyk Valade.

Technical coordination : Vincent Drouin
Printing on aluminum : Graphie
Framing : François Simard and Ludovic Boney
Installation : Ludovic Boney and Étienne Baillargeon

Earth
Raspberry stems stand alongside metal wires ready to support other plants, a watering system brings water inside a greenhouse, and the branches of a willow tree are crowned with young spring shoots. One hand lifts up stems that were collapsed by winter, while another is slightly wounded; and farther away, it is the willow that spreads its energy to a woman leaning on it. Raspberry leaves are known to be a natural medicine for blood circulation and stomach aches, while willow bark relieves pain. Living among the living, we are linked to the earth and to what grows.

Water

The spring never stops flowing, even under the ice. In the bottle, the water is contained, just for the time it takes to evaporate into the air or before it quenches the thirst of a being. One hand stretches out towards the sky, seemingly welcoming the rain that will soon join the clear water of the rivers. A tight line brings us closer to the world of fish. Living among the living, we are made of glimmering streams.