Maude Léonard Contant

Maude Léonard-Contant‘s mixed-media sculpture installation titled, I don’t know when it became a cult – and that bothers me, finds its inspiration in the aesthetic of mortuary parlors. The central image in the installation is a palm tree. Historically, the symbolic palm tree motif has had a variety of interpretations ranging from victory and martyrdom, to peace, plenitude and spiritual oasis. In Maude’s serious yet campy installation, the image serves as a pretext to create a fusion between the anteroom of death and the world of art. Pedestals, pillars, reliquaries, showcases and salons harmoniously mesh in the pacifying smell of incense. She is a resident of Montreal and received additional funding from Canada Council for the Arts.