Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color

Katherine Duclos begins each artwork with a color palette and no plan. Placing modular LEGO bricks one by one, the Vancouver-based artist intuitively builds each dense composition, commencing a repetitive process in which she introduces paint before rearranging again.

Duclos’ most recent solo show, aptly titled The light and color we carry, reinforces the overarching significance of color within the artist’s practice. She created her recent collection during a great shift as she moved to a new home with her family. The neurodivergent artist held onto color as a grounding force, creating connections between the specific hues and lights she would miss in her previous home.

detail of a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
Detail of “Temper your touch please” (2024)

A statement from the Vancouver Art Gallery reads:

Times of transition and upheaval are particularly difficult for autistic families, and Katherine’s need to order her world became more intense as her home became more chaotic and the future seemed unclear. To better prepare herself for the changes, she focused on regulatory work that enabled her to feel a sense of control and order amidst the chaos. 

Having disabilities with spatial processing and rotating images causes Duclos to run into some obstacles with the diagrams and instructions that accompany the traditional LEGO kit. “I never enjoyed Lego until my son handed me four flat pieces stuck together when he was 5 and said, ‘I thought you’d like these colors next to each other.’ That was my light bulb moment,” she says. Made to hang at any orientation, each vibrant amalgamation encourages movement and fluctuation despite the stiff, blocky nature of the material.

Duclos is creating work in preparation for a forthcoming solo exhibition in January next year. Keep tabs on her work via Instagram and the artist’s website.

a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
“Fireflies and lilacs” (2024)
a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
“Let your sad light be a beacon (Raincouver)” (2024)
Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color
Detail of “I will ahead of you and scaffold the light so you can see the path forward” (2024)
a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
“Sometimes the asymmetry is so subtle it’s subversive” (2024)
a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
“You can make your own plans, the day will make itself” (2024)
a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
“Temper your touch please” (2024)
a colorful abstract lego composition within a wooden frame
“I will ahead of you and scaffold the light so you can see the path forward” (2024)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color appeared first on Colossal.

©

Related Posts

Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in ColorThrough LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color
Monitor and keyboard contraption lets you work...
Now that we’re almost back to “normal” or at least...
Read more
Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in ColorThrough LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color
Who’s On the Move? New appointments in...
The month of September ushered in a string of significant...
Read more
A game being played on a smartphone.A game being played on a smartphone.
NYT Strands hints, answers for July 28
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help...
Read more
Faith Kipyegon runs the Diamond LeagueFaith Kipyegon runs the Diamond League
How to watch the women's 1,500m final...
TL;DR: Live stream the women's 1,500m final at Paris 2024...
Read more
Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in ColorThrough LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color
This Beautiful Built-In Adds Instant Elegance Without...
Custom built-ins typically cost thousands, making many homeowners assume they’re...
Read more
Through LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in ColorThrough LEGO Compositions, Katherine Duclos Grounds Chaos in Color
Autex Acoustics, supporter of The Learning Space...
It’s obvious to say that best practice should be applied...
Read more