Collaging With...M. Florine Démosthène
Exhibitions & Events
Meet M. Florine Démosthène, whose work is featured in Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage and will be leading a collage workshop at the Phillips on August 4.
Raised primarily in Haiti, the homeland of her parents, M. Florine Démosthène (b. United States; active in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and New York, New York) creates multimedia collage works featuring fleshy, ambiguously formed characters. The figures are made of translucent marbleized Mylar and are often embellished with glitter and other shimmering materials and float in an undefined space that produces an otherworldly, dreamlike aura. Although they are largely presented as flat silhouettes, enough is revealed to suggest female bodies, and Démosthène wants viewers to consider Black womanhood as a multitude of experiences beyond that of a sexualized object.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
My background and collective experience have positioned me at the center of the cross-cultural realities of American, Caribbean, and West African contexts. It has allowed me to examine the sacred sciences and how these practices are relegated into people’s daily lives. My works draw from both the convergences and divergences of these cultures as I am allowed to bear witness to the fundamental elements that influence all human conditions.
My process starts with reflecting on ideas for sketches followed by a self-portrait shoot which I’ll later use to scale up the work using painted collage paper. I am fascinated with the pristineness of paper, and its versatility and durability despite people’s misunderstanding of this material. Whether I’m allowing the blend of paints to flow naturally or carefully layering each collage piece on a permanent background, I value the ability to access all parts of my brain and the depths of my inner self.
Please tell us about your work being shown in Multiplicity?
The work in Multiplicity is a series within a series. A single concept usually gives birth to a multitude of queries that drive a deeper dive into the subject. One example is the selections of The Healing Untitled #1-3. This work captures my moments exploring spiritual nebulas, the ethereal world, and the idea that humans live in multi-dimensional forms.
What will you be teaching during your collage workshop?
I will be teaching a collage workshop centering the theme of mythical creatures and their creation stories. Participants will be led to create a new form of mythical being by combining elements from two or more favorite animals to create a personalized identity and narrative for their creation. The workshop will incorporate basic collage techniques, such as cutting and layering different shapes from an array of materials, and embellishing these layers to create definition and accent.
What are some of your general practice techniques or beliefs that you incorporate into your lessons?
My general practice includes traditional fine art techniques such as examining shapes to create a two-dimensional plane and understanding how textures are used to communicate information to viewers. Usually, my workshops are completed in stages to allow participants to conceptualize their two-dimensional work in third-dimensional form, as well as further develop their ideas using alternate mediums. I also integrate aspects of art history into my workshops as an opportunity to discover the work of artists using simple shapes and techniques to design refined works.
Register for August 4 workshop
