GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet: What are you working on?
Jean-Simon Trottier: For the past two years, I've been working continuously on a collaborative project with my partner Montserrat Duran Muntadas. We have created several sculptural installations that explore the issues of immigration and borders. For this project, we were especially inspired by seeds of various plants as metaphorical symbols of freedom. Because the organic forms of our sculpture were inspired by nature, this especially made our technical research an enriching one, while giving us pieces that surpassed our expectations.
Currently, we are still working on this project, which will further advance in the spring of 2016 due to our upcoming residency at the North Lands Creative Glass studios, in Scotland. As for my current personal work, it focuses on the concept of equilibrium and disequilibrium. I am especially interested in technological, climatic, social movements and changes that have marked our era, as well as the means that these dynamics have developed to find balance. Specifically, I install or place various natural elements in an unbalanced context. For example, my most recent piece was inspired by the contamination of the aquatic fauna following the Fukushima nuclear accident of March 11, 2011. I mostly work with the hot sculpted and blown glass techniques.
GLASS: What have you seen or been thinking about that has inspired your recent work?
Jean-Simon: The irreversible nature of certain ecological issues and food waste, among many others, intrigues me. The possibility of a global contamination of our living environment, the rapid extinction of many living species and the exponential overpopulation of the planet are subjects that constantly preoccupy me. I must admit that my imagination tends to think about the possibility of an imminent catastrophe. On the other hand, I was rather inspired, this past summer, while attending the 56th edition of the prestigious Venice Art Biennale whose theme this year was: "All the World's Future".
Furthermore, I am currently reading a history book that retraces the lives of the quasi-forgotten French-Canadian explorers or woodsmen (coureurs des bois) that trekked throughout the American continent during the colonial times. It’s mind blowing.
GLASS: Where can your work be seen?
Jean-Simon: My work is on view in a group exhibiiton at the Canadian Guild of Crafts in Montreal, Canada, through December 12, 2015. I also have work touring with the European Glass Festival.
Editor's Note: In the Summer 2015 edition of GLASS (#139), critic Bruno Andrus reviewed Trottier and Muntadas's exhibition at Espace VERRE.