P’eau douce [Soft skin]

Materials :
Latex canvas, Steel cables
Dimensions :
150 (h) x 200 (l) x 400 (d) cm
Medium :
Temporary in situ installation

Context :
Project carried out within the framework of the Alsace-Québec ACA/FRAC/Language Plus/CEEAC and DRAC joint residencies, in Strasbourg, France, from October 2nd to 27th, 2004.

During his residency in Strasbourg, Quebec artist Marc Dulude proposes the project titled P’eau douce (Soft skin). Inspired by a plastic bag filled with water hanging from a tree branch, the artist decides to recreate this pocket of water, but with a waterproof canvas, like a tanner stretching a skin, to create a bas-relief. Marc Dulude therefore builds on the Finkwiller dock, near the Saint-Thomas bridge, in Strasbourg, a membrane that can collect water which will forge, thanks to its weight, shapes that change according to the wind and the vibrations it causes. Installed in a public place in such a way as to disconcert intrigued passers-by, the tactile work sparked spontaneous gestures in the latter, thus instilling the desire for play. The opportunity for delightful and friendly interactions lends itself well to observers who have become active participants.