Doris Charest

Treasures
Spending time in my garden, I discovered unexpected treasures like broken bird eggs, pinecones, and bits of plants, dropped by wind or animals. Inspired by the debris, particularly broken eggs, I thought about using these materials in my art. My interest in kintsugi, a Japanese art form of repurposing broken objects and highlighting imperfections with gold and silver, added a new dimension. Kintsugi is also a metaphor for embracing flaws, symbolizing life experiences that make us stronger.
Combining these ideas, I created multimedia pieces— sculptures, drawings, and a few paintings. While garden elements were familiar in my art, I approached them differently. Each “debris” piece was isolated, making these imperfect elements special yet part of the whole, and an independent artwork, echoing the philosophy of kintsugi.
Extending my exploration to Lot 56 in St. Albert during hikes, I focused on small, overlooked treasures like seeds, branches, and leaves. My art aims to reveal nature’s hidden gems that are ignored on an ordinary day until one day we slow down and take the time to notice what is there. In my walks, I also found man-made materials and began incorporating some of these in the artwork. The contrast between the two elements reminds us of our commitments to environmental cleanup. By creating small sculptures, like a nest from a painted placemat, sticks, and eggshells, I embraced new challenges like combining a hot glue gun, gesso, and gold foil. Repurposing elements from nature, my art invites people to notice often unnoticed details, mirroring how kintsugi revitalizes broken objects, making them valuable again. I strive to engage observers and make them appreciate the intricacies in their surroundings, much like kintsugi does for broken objects.

– Doris Charest