This book traces the story of encounters spent spending short segments of time with strangers, under various conditions, Sylvie Cotton weaves an intimate plot where one might detect a hint of socially engaged art. Instead, she discerns an intimately engaged art. The main feature of this artist-in-residence project is its duration. Its particularity lies in the fact that, although the meetings are no longer than in other projects (between 3 and 12 hours each), they are for the most part repeated. As participants and artist meet again, relationships find their momentum and place in continuity. The subject of their talks develops differently depending on the context. They perform actions, often ordinary ones, which they would not have carried out outside the context of the project.
avec du l'autre
Sylvie Cotton
Sylvie Cotton inspires the situations that life offers her, and exhales them into the world of art. Biographical material is privileged. To make art is to experience an encounter with oneself, with others and with phenomena, whether material or immaterial, subtle or manifest, and then to reveal the coloration of this encounter, to reveal the potential for friction and reciprocal influences. The works are produced in an aesthetic of cordiality, melting and union, while the modes of presentation are those of offering, proliferation or collection. Cotton uses a variety of media: performance and action art, artist's books, drawing, photography, installation and writing. She has presented her performance and exhibition projects in Quebec, the United States, Mexico, Europe and Japan.
