Xylon Québec becomes a CATALYST in the sense that it proposes a unique poetical theme to its members of various tendencies, thus focusing their multiple styles in teamwork for the production of an art book, which, however, bears witness to each one's artistic individuality. The art book theme, mostly borrowed from a Québec poet, may be compared in some ways to a distillery. From this alchemy surges a deep poetical meaning, transforming and unifying the various talents of the group members into one product: the book. Consequently, not only does the art book catalyze the multiple approaches into one singular personality, but it also becomes the TRANSMITTER of an image. The image does not only reflect the engravers themselves or their association, but also the very soul of Québec and its particular environment. Since these art books become part of the permanent collection of the Bibliothèque nationale and other major Québec institutions, their fate is thus intimately linked to the transmission cycle of Québec history and archives. Consequently, it plays a social role, deeply rooted in Québec's development. In brief, each art book becomes a palpable INFORMER of the printmakers' activities and a milestone (marking the moods, special events or moments of this society's evolution), intended as guideline for the foreigner's observing eye.

Catalog listing