LACUNE (bL & WH) — jason wasserman collaboration
LACUNE — a black and white collaboration — French for “gap”
The word perfectly describes the collaborative exploration of a space between two Jasons.
This is an unconventional paper-based collage process; an extended conversation about the transformational power of shared creativity; the bridged gap between us as more than the sum of our parts.
A ‘Lacune’ also describes areas where the blood flow to the brain has been blocked, resulting in a mini stroke, not unlike the cognitive dissonance so many of us are struggling with during these uncertain times of paradigmatic upheaval.
SHARED CREATIVITY
Jason Wasserman is one of my closest friends on the planet, in a relationship forged through the fires of frequent artistic collaborations. Jason is also co-director of the EN MASSE project.
After many months of trial and error during the pandemic, the unique language and logic of this collaboration began to emerge.
TORN DRAWING COLLAGEs
Our body of torn drawings purposefully bypasses a collaborative zone of comfort, awkwardly groping around dark mirror reflections of an increasingly fragmented world. These multi-layered compositions are rice-pasted reconstructions of many small and large torn-paper deconsstructions.
Lacune is a process-based synergy of symptomatic symmetries. We warm these mixed-media fictions to life through experimental friction. These works are a celebration of trust, friendship, and the thrill of evolving together across the gap.
MATERIALS
A variety of rice, vellum and tracing papers were the foundation of our drawing and collage-based process, along with India and coloured inks.
The drawings themselves featured a dizzying array of graphic patterns, figurative elements, and typographic studies steeped long and strong in retro black and white comic book nostalgia.
Each drawing — compelling works of art on their own — suffered acts of destruction. They were at the very least torn and then ‘re-mixed’ directly on the canvas in fevered Double-J tag-team fashion, using archival rice-paste adhesive and UV-protective acrylic matte finishing moves.
DADAIST DNA
The patient reader of these collaged poems that owe much to their Dadaist DNA, will no doubt catch glimpses of at least a few familiar bits and bobbles.
These are shattered windshield reflections of the many raging currents of global cultural opinion during the darkest days of Canada’s corona confusion, confinement and catastrophic corruption.
“For us, art is not an end in itself … but it is an opportunity for the true perception and criticism of the times we live in.”
– Hugo Ball
JASON WASSERMAN
Jason Wasserman is a born and raised Montreal artist. Obsessed with comic books and illustration from a young age, he holds a BFA from Concordia University. He has worked as a contract illustrator, painter and muralist since then. His signature style is easily recognizable by its bold, black & white comic book aesthetic. His narratives are heavily inspired by lowbrow art and the city of Montreal.
CLOSING THE GAP
These works are up for sale. They have not ever seen the light of day, due to the pandemic.
We’re excited for your feedback, and standing by for questions, comments, or concerns you may have on subject.
Both Jasons are on the same page, even if slightly torn.
We believe shared creativity is the ‘New Normal’
