Louis Bouvier

Louis Bouvier came to this residency to finish pieces, but he ended up building entirely new ones. This has entailed learning how to weld, a skill that he adds to an incredible interdisciplinary arsenal he has mastered to create his compelling sculptural worlds. Entering his studio at Est-Nord-Est feels like walking into the inner layer of a set designer’s workspace mid-film. Gargoyles, in various modes of production, of different materials, and at various scales stare back at the viewer. Bouvier is testing things, and the possibilities seem infinite.

During a residency in Lyon a year ago, Bouvier became interested in what he describes as “grotesque ornamentation,” an extension of the architectural décor associated with medieval European buildings. When he returned to North America, Bouvier discovered that we often identify certain types of ornamentation as kitsch. In Montréal, few buildings have these types of flourishes on them, and so Bouvier’s goal during his time at Est-Nord-Est was to imagine and create grotesque mascarons in different sizes that would become protectors of the buildings they are associated with. During the residency, his approach, working with multiples – casting, whittling, 3D printing, and more – is not precious but process driven, as he seeks to generate as many pieces as possible so he can then narrow down the options and deploy them in future projects.

With the wood and metal shop literally across the hallway, Bouvier has been able to push the boundaries of these projects, to continue experimenting – whereas, back in Montreal, he might choose to end his day and leave the studio. His space, filled to the brim with gargoyles or gargoyle-like figures staring back at you, emanates this intensity. One can’t help but wonder if at night, when the lights go out, Bouvier’s monsters come out to play!