2021
The collection of specimens in this body of work are casts of potholes and cracks in the streets of Tiohtiá:ke Mooniyang Montreal, harvested over the course of three years, usually between February and April. This work is an ongoing open-ended experiment through which I enter into conversation with materials, textures and forms, between making and listening.
Potholes and cracks in the asphalt or cement are a unique phenomenon in northern climates, especially in areas where there is a lot of traffic. Due to the weight of vehicles, well-worn asphalt develops small cracks through which rainwater can penetrate. The water accumulates and is then soaked up by the gravel and the sand that reinforces the asphalt from underneath. When the water freezes, it expands and therefore creates cracks and holes in the supporting bed which respectively enlarge the cracks in the asphalt. The cycle of freezing -thawing -cracking is significantly amplified due to the use of salt for melting the ice on the streets. Salt makes water thaw faster because it's freezing point is higher. This means that, by using salt, there is more movement between liquid and frozen states of water. This cycle is particularly present in Spring because the fluctuations in temperature below and above the freezing point are more frequent.
Publication
Installtion view at Quai 5160, Masion de la culture Verdun, 2020Photo credit: Nina Varomen