Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie-Chloé Duval.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
7 years ago, my friend asked: “what gives you energy?” Not long after, my criminology professor asked: “what do you wake up wanting to do?”
Creating was the answer to both these questions.
As I am writing these lines, I am exhilarated; I found what drives me in life. I see all my past thoughts, actions, and relationships through this art lens, and they make more sense to me as I define myself as an artist. For many years, I envied those who could spend 10 hours a day working on a project, forgetting their outside distractions. But today, I am that person. When I am creating, I become absorbed, and I never count my hours. Yet, I would not feel complete painting meaningless subject matter, and not using art to be a change-maker. With a Master’s degree in criminology, numerous travels, and many paintings later, I have come to two main conclusions. First, my formal education in criminology has enhanced my interest towards social justice, human rights, public policies, and taboos. Second, my provocative and sensitive creations represent the most powerful way for me to raise awareness about the issues I care about.
From an outside perspective, my previous degrees in criminology may appear worlds apart from a creative life. However, they are strongly related. My training in criminology has taught me the art and science of analyzing and interpreting social issues and human interactions. Being a student taught me how to work for my goals, how to be a citizen, and the importance of leaving a legacy for the next generation. I came to understand that my desire to make our society more active, more involved, and most important, more alive is core to who I am. They are all central themes in my creative process, and in the message that I am eager to share with my art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Choosing art, choosing a passion and making it your life is never easy. It is a rewarding, difficult, exciting and amazing experience. It is a constant adventure with wonderful highs and lows.
Over the years I have learned to tame the moments of doubt as an opportunity for reflection. I am learning that in this essential doubt I confirm myself in my choices despite their challenge. Choosing to continue to make art in your life is one thing, choosing to live it is another.
In a way, I could never stop creating, it is in me and stronger than reason, but certainly, there are stakes. You have to learn to do everything when you are an artist. That’s also what I like, this feeling of always growing and learning.
I feel blessed in my career because, despite the difficulties and the long hours, I am surrounded by incredible people who feed me a lot.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My approach is anchored in a gestural process expressing encounters between opposing elements. Black and white, certainly, or abstract and figurative, movement and rigidity, but also between dark elements of human reality and the tipping point that transforms into a luminous character.
It is through creation that I bring to light this dialogue of paradoxes. I deconstruct the codes and norms of society and, through painting, acrylics, felt pens and photos, I engage in questioning the place of the human being, the way we look at ourselves and the other, and then at us. My art stems from a reflection that I carry in my academic career, criminology, and gives to see a free pictorial expression which is inspired by paradoxical social situations. The notion of the presence and absence of cohabiting and the sublimation of violence are part of my work. In this quest for the elusive, I paint, I mark and trace.
I obstruct my visual invoice by proposing to the observer to create his own interpretation of what is hidden beyond the first glance, certainly, in a desire for confrontation of perceptions,
I thus underline the pride of our conviction that our senses are in harmony with the world. Destroying the illusion that what we see is what is.
Any big plans?
I am always seeking to evolve, as long as I grow and keep getting better and having more opportunities I will be the happiest person alive!
A big big move is coming this year.
In 2020, at 30 years old, I decided to go back to school to get a fine arts degree.
For my last year, I decided to transfer to a school in NYC where I will be studying arts for a year.
Along with many solo shows and group shows in Canada, Greece, and the UK, I feel very excited about what’s coming and all the amazing things that I do not yet know about that will happen to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mcduval.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duval.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariechloeduval
