As the MAC looks toward the future, and with a major architectural transformation well underway, we invited artist Clara Lacasse to create a photographic project on our construction site. Returning to the site over several months, the artist recorded its changes as they unfolded.
Vermilion Sun
Outdoor mural
Lacasse’s recurring visits were defined by a certain in-betweenness, a moment during which the building was actively morphing, leaving the space she once knew completely unrecognizable. A large orange membrane covering the new architectural framework to protect it from the elements caught her attention. The brightly coloured tarp produced an overwhelming sensorial effect, soaking the interior spaces in a dramatic, tinted light. Lacasse took this central motif into the darkroom, together with a variety of objects abandoned on the construction site, to recapture the chromatic effect—an afterimage—through a chemical process.
In this sequence of images, Clara Lacasse vividly captures the labour that occurs in the MAC’s bustling building using the objects and traces left behind. Through her inquisitive lens, the artist documents a trove of quirky presences and amusing moments that are the markers of workplace life, whether in the vacated offices or on the construction site.
This outdoor exhibition is presented along Jeanne-Mance Street, between Sainte-Catherine and De Maisonneuve Boulevard West.
Clara Lacasse is interested in the construction of narratives related to history, nature, science, and the collective imaginary. With a focus on the photographic image, Lacasse’s work supports critical reflection on visual culture and on the image as an instrument of knowledge and power. Her projects are often realized in collaboration with scientific, medical, legal, or cultural organizations. Through these partnerships, the artist bears witness to the complex dialogue between science and culture by questioning their inherent truths. Lacasse holds a BFA with a major in photography from Concordia University (2018). She is a recipient of the New Generation Photography Award (2022), presented by the National Gallery of Canada and Scotiabank. Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions at VU Photo (Québec City) and DRAC (Drummondville) as well as in group shows at the National Gallery of Canada, Arsenal (Toronto), and Centre SKOL (Montréal). Her work has received support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
Source: Clara Lacasse
Credit: Richmond Lam