Snapper no. 9 by Stéphane Alexis

Stéphane Alexis is an artist based in Ottawa, Canada. His work stems from his personal experiences, demographics, and sub-demographics in which he belongs, with close attention paid to both conceptual design and aesthetic quality. His desire is to bring attention, focus, and transparency to peoples and communities that are tucked away due to the hardships they face and the unwillingness we have in acknowledging those hardships. Alexis uses these qualities as a bridge, giving insight on issues and circumstances facing these communities, both locally and globally, through his choice of subject matter. He believes that we can only come to solutions if we identify issues; we can do this by communicating openly with each other and allow the negativity and difficulties to come to the surface.

The Collection is a photo-based project that investigates the subconscious through automatism. From the early 1920-30s, artists like Salvador Dali used surrealism to help pioneer notions of the unconscious mind. This method, often used in drawing and painting, is herein repurposed through the photographic medium. These series of images use symbols, textures, and colours to bring forth my dreams, memories, and trials through vivid, ethereal images. Within The Collection, we are presenting two series: "Clay" and "Relationships". Each series tells a story about me and my outlook on life.

"Relationships" uses chicken feet to represent the ebbs and flows of interpersonal relationships. As these symbols engage in dance, the audience is invited to interpret their own relationships through these works.

"Clay" explores attachment styles and their outcomes. From infancy to adulthood we live through difficult circumstances. Oftentimes to survive, bits of thoughts and conditioning break down within our subconscious and create behavioral patterns that mold us into who we are. As time passes, these behavioural molds can begin to harden, creating a shell that can be difficult to break out of. Many times, individuals can be unaware of these behavioral patterns, especially if they are rooted in infancy/childhood, making intimacy, friendships, and other relationships difficult to navigate. However, once awareness surfaces, work can be done to course-correct these unneeded behaviours.

These series have led to a level of deep introspection, resulting in insights that have proven to be beneficial to my healing process. In these works, I explore the concept of masking and unveiling myself as I reflect on society.

- Stéphane Alexis