art book containing the monoprints
art book containing the monoprints

When founding objects related to anonymous people, simple questions like whom, when and why emerge, in order to situate and understand the object in itself. However, the significance that one will give to it can’t be separated from the personal story of the viewer.

In June 2012, I traveled to Lisbon, to visit my friend Clara Ploux who was dealing with the loss of her son. During her stay, I found a loose packet of letters, telegrams and photographs from the ‘50s, in a flea market. Moved by the heartfelt testimony of the past that emerges from these exchanges between two young lovers (Eduardo and Odete), we initiated a creative journey, while the concurrence of dates, places, and names created emotions and aroused our curiosity and imagination. Love and death are always fundamental in our choices as our lives are a mosaic of coincidences, moments and encounters where all parts come together to create vibrant images. This experimental project aims to question how reality and fiction serve as mirrors beyond time and space.

We have worked together over 2 years on this multidisciplinary art project to realize 2 sets of 25 monoprints completed with collage, drawing, sewing and written work on paper, a video projection, original music and an interactive art performance.

MONOPRINTS

the monoprints and collage were inspired by the 1950s' aesthetic, using original recycled materials.  The objective was to create a contemporary graphic dialogue with the written work, using only fragments as pieces of a puzzle with different levels of interpretation.
WRITTEN WORK

the written process gave life to Eduardo and Odete as poetic characters. The articulation was created focusing in Odete’s voice, experiencing love through presence and absence, while time has fragmented the writing through empty spaces and unique moments. The development of a metaphysical interaction between past and present has arisen as evidence.
VIDEO & MUSIC

the video portrays a visual interpretation of Odete’s voice as an organic dimension of this experimental space. Her voice duplicates in echo to the singer’s voice. Inspired by the written work, the music expresses melancholia since happiness is not continuous; it comes and goes in cycles, like when a recorded music stops and one starts to listen to it again.
ART PERFORMANCE

From immersive theatre, the character of Eduardo interacts with the audience, asking how would they like to be remembered. Later, Eduardo reads the answers out loud and displays them in the exhibition as another part of this experimental dialogue between past and present, reality and fiction.

 

Monoprints: Joëlle Verstraeten
Written work, video and art performance director: Clara Ploux (clara.ploux@gmail.com)

Original music: Laura Macedo / Marcelo Silva Video

Performer: Chloé Petit
Art performer: 
Luciole International Theatre

Art box: Armando Rodrigez