Montreal's Station 16 Gallery is opening Marie-Claude (MC) Marquis' second solo exhibit Ouvert à Tous / Open to All on February 7th, 2019. In this exhibition, Marquis takes over the gallery space with the installation of a sacred alter meant to allow the viewer an intimate moment of reflection, surrounded by the artist’s signature vintage plates and embroideries. Marquis proposes a place where everyone will feel welcome to take the time to stop, slow down, and breathe; especially relevant in an era where our anxiety towards the future and the stresses of social media affect more than one.
Marquis’ artwork embodies a unique blend of nostalgia and pop culture. Her canvas takes the form of ultra-kitschy vintage plates upon which she hand-paints intricate typography or embroidered needlepoints making reference to explicit swear words, Québécois slang, and hilariously on-point pop references. She has mastered the art of re-appropriation in giving found objects new meaning, always with a refreshing sense of humor and an eye for design. This way she gives these objects a second life, prolonging their existence and reducing her own environmental impact.
