By Isabelle Hayeur
Murs aveugles / Blind Walls (2014) is an architectural projection presented on a building adjoining the Saint-Laurent metro station in Montreal.
This work was inspired by the Occupy movement of peaceful protest and draws a portrait of our current political horizon. From October 15 to November 25, 2011, numerous citizens gathered and established the Occupons Montréal camp on Victoria Square, renamed Place du peuple for the duration. I regularly came to this public forum, taking pictures of the indignés, the tents, the posters, listening to public statements… There was a wonderful energy about this place, bringing back hope: a fairer world, with more solidarity, was possible. This movement provided a glimpse of what our societies will become when citizens participate more in the political life of their countries.
The video appears as a colourful, baroque, playful mosaic. It is made up of graffiti, slogans, symbols and citations that are superimposed on the projection surface to form virtual murals. I use it to tackle topics such as gentrification, social inequalities, media convergence, the environment… Different language levels are brought together to abolish hierarchies.