Critical Writing Index

Jean-Francois Cantin: Propos Type

by Robert Racine

Centerfold, Dec. 1978, v. 3, no. 1, pp. 40-42

Robert Racine analyzed Montreal artist Jean-François Cantin's 1977 Propos Type. The installation, which played the role of a sculpture, comprised of Cantin's image projected upon a video screen and Cantin himself in the physical space of the Masonic Temple. In addition, the 2-D image was mirrored in the 3-D world as the image of a TV frame was projected onto the wall behind Cantin and the artist also mimicked the gestures of his projected image on the video screen. The link between the two dimensions was an elastic tape which was literally extended from the 2-D Cantin to his 3-D self. The notion of "tape" was explored further as Cantin created a living sculpture by his circling around and taping the audience members who approached the scuplture, to the video screen. The attraction between video and its spectators thus became literal.

ITEM 1978.010 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Propos TypeJean-Francois Cantin