Yves TRUDEAU (1930-2017)

Inspired by the world around him, Yves Trudeau R.C.A  frees his work from traditional sculpture by reusing its language, but with a different modus operandi. During the ‘60s, the artist starts to use welding in his work, which allows him to combine different materials that were known as incompatible. This lead the artist to create a series of sculptures combining iron and wood, which will set the tone for Trudeau’s future artworks. His sculptures, instead of being built on a massive base, frequently possess only three support points spaced from each other, which creates a negative space at the sculpture’s base. By that, his artworks, rather than being rooted in the ground, seem to take off as if reaching for the sky.

For over a decade, Trudeau works with these ideas and produces a series of sculptures called Murs fermés et ouverts. By working with a technique of folding, he brings a notion of mobility into his practice. His future works, the series of Parvis et portails, are inspired by gothic architecture and refer to the idea of remnants. Although diverse from the Murs fermés et ouverts, these works keep their mobility; indeed, it is possible to rearrange the different parts which may result in a total transformation of the sculpture. In so doing, the artist offers the possibility to the observer to step in the creative practice. Throughout his career, Trudeau will be inspired by ideas such as: remnants linked to the architecture, the social discourse and currents such as Hard Edge and minimalism.

Born in Montréal in 1930, Yves Trudeau and graduated from the École des beaux-arts du Québec, and then starts his artistic career in the late ‘50s, where he will be known for his bronze sculptures. Winner of different art contests in Québec, in 1959 and 1962, he will present his work in many solo and collective exhibitions in Canada, United States and Europe. Trudeau also participated in many biennials across Europe and to different sculpture symposiums. His artworks are part of many major private and public collections, in Québec and abroad. Many of his works can be seen throughout Québec, including the Montréal metro Côte-Vertu, where his last work from the series Murs fermés et ouverts, called Relief, negatif, positif, is installed. It is also possible to admire his sculpture called Phare du Cosmos, made in 1967 as part of the Expo67, on the southwest tip of Île Sainte-Hélène. Involved in the development and promotion of arts and culture, Trudeau creates, in 1960, the Association des sculpteurs du Québec, nowadays called Conseil de la sculpture du Québec. Retired teacher at from UQÀM, Yves Trudeau is also a member of the Order of Canada and of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art.

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