Quand j'étais chinois (2017-present)
Embroidery on chiffon and organza, wood
Several sets of circular fans, including “Les étoiles en voyage” and “Razzia” which are taken from chapter titles in
Père Lavoie’s memoir, “Quand j’étais chinois” (1961, Les Éditions Bellarin), of his time in China as a Jesuit missionary
from 1924 to 1928. He left in 1928 to become the Procureur de la Mission à Quebec de Chine and raise funds for the
missions in China. He was the founder of the missionary newsletter, “Le Brigand” which was started in 1930, and the
Musée d’art chinois which opened the following year. He made regular requests to colleagues in China to bring or send back
specific objects (such as 600 fans) back for the Musée and its gift shop. I have turned some of the sketches and illustrations
found in Lavoie’s book into embroidery on the fans. |