General Wolfe and General Montcalm

There is a lot to an art object like a painting or a sculpture that is outside the immediate focus on that object. Where the art object is residing, what other art objects it is placed with, and in what context it is exhibited matters tremendously. Always in a crunch for time, not just because there is so much to see and read in a limited amount of time, but also cognizant of my short attention span to focus and be in tune with the curator’s theme, I am in a race against time. No wonder why the curator job is so challenging.

I find it even more difficult to convey my sense of perception about the art in a photo, completely out of context on social media. Of course, it’s impossible to create the same sense of perception by the viewer of the photo. Not just the context of the exhibition, but also my overall knowledge and personality play a role in my perception.

Despite these difficulties, I think it is worth posting photos. Even if the same ambiance of the original art object is not there, there is some inherent aesthetic or creativity in the object, that is worth experiencing, even if it is second-hand. Besides, the viewers will have their thoughts which I may have glossed over, simply didn’t care for, or just not capable of with my limitations.

This photo is from an exhibit at the Abraham Plains museum in Quebec City. The exhibits are life-size sculptures of important people in that famous battle era. The photo shows the two army generals in that battle between the French and the British on the opposite side. Both generals died in the battle.

The art and its venue are intrinsically interlinked and separating the two lose much of its value. But I also am admiring how the sculptures are made. They are pieces of plaster (I think) stacked together to create the whole sculpture. Very delightful to view in its own merit.