Thompson Landry Gallery’s current exhibition of Marie-Josée Roy from Trois-Riveres, Quebec is an intriguing one. Roy is a metal-smith who has beautifully crafted her pieces through a combination of several techniques including image transfer, painting, etching, plating, welding, and engraving. “Womb” is the collection of about 50 works from the last few years. I found myself in awe while strolling through the gallery. Each piece must be viewed for some time in order to grasp all the layers.
Marie-Josée Roy in front of her work, Le chant du quantique, welded steel, 82″ x 56″ x 6″. Photo: Emily Newell
I had the chance to speak with Roy and was most curious about the title of the show; “Womb”. She explained that she wanted a word in English that could encompass how she felt about her works. She told me that the word “Womb” fit perfectly because of its life-giving meaning. Her artwork all has an essence of life. Every piece has a human form focusing on the head, hands or feet. Each of these body parts breathe life into her pieces and with the surrounding motifs create a composition that can only be described as amazing.
Marie-Josée Roy, Et il y a eu le déversement, oil and photo transfer on aluminum, 60” x 48”. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery
Long bodies are stretched over large metal plates, their heads turned up towards the sky. There are hands depicted by glorious colours protruding with vibrant paints, exploding with passion. Branch like appendages being expelled from hands exploring the connection between human life and nature. In “La décloison” the image of an embracing couple behind clouds of paint shows absolute contentment and love. Their heads, hands and feet are photo realistic while their bodies are covered with dynamically applied large splashes of paint. A cavalcade of figures from Renaissance paintings surround them – creating a dramatic movement in the composition. Each piece has such a depth, layers upon layers of the meaning of human nature.
Marie-Josée Roy, La décloison, oil and photo transfer on aluminium, 96” x 48”. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery
The arms in “Le guide I, II and III” are reaching for something that are too far and get elongated in their effort. Around each wrist there is a pattern of etching that distract the viewer from just seeing an arm but rather an interesting image that completed by the paint dripping from the fingers. On the first piece white paint drips starting a procedure that reminds us of the passing time: the dark blue for the night and the bright light on the last one for the morning or for eternity.
Marie-Josée Roy, Le guide I, II, III, each: mixed media on aluminum, 60” x 12”. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery
The excellently crafted “Le fil de mon histoire” is a good example of Roy’s artistic method. A beautiful young woman stands on the right and from her body an intricate pattern arises. It is a mixture of feathers, stylized flowers and ornaments, applied in a way that reminds us of art nouveau. The etching on this piece is extraordinary and wonderfully emphasizes the beauty of metal that shines in a golden light. Standing about 5 feet tall, it is a fabulous example of Roy’s dedication in exploring the wonders of life.
Marie-Josée Roy, Le fil de mon histoire, oil and photo transfer on copper, engraving by Jérôme Prieur, 22” x 18”. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery
Roy’s works are encapsulating. Each piece is unique and can be easily distinguished by its raw style that has a combination of masculine and feminine traits. They are all pregnant with beauty.
Emily Newell
*Exhibition information: April 21 – May 15, 2016, Thompson Landry Gallery Stone Distillery, 32 Distillery Lane, Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue – Sat, 11 am – 6 pm; Sun, 12 – 5 pm.