Living in Montreal, Canada, Elise Goyette embarked on a unique artistic path that has evolved significantly over the years. Initially, she made her mark as a translator, immersing herself in the intricacies of language and communication. However, about three years ago, she transitioned into the world of collage art, a shift that has profoundly influenced her life and creative expression.
Collaging has become more than just a creative outlet for Goyette; it serves as an intimate, journal-like exploration of her inner world. As she reflects:
“Each piece I create reveals and embodies my state of mind and emotions, allowing me to delve into my subconscious. My artistic process is spontaneous and organic; I never fully know where my creativity will take me until I arrive at the final work. While I may wake up with a particular color scheme or structural idea in mind, these rarely dictate the outcome of the day’s collage.”
Her work often explores themes of societal decay, evidenced in everyday outcomes. This recurring motif allows her to highlight the nuances of emotional experience through luminosity and texture, which she believes convey deeper feelings than representational images can—especially in today’s media-saturated world.
Goyette’s daily collages serve as entries in her personal journal, where she can process her preoccupations inspired by her mood and what’s happening in her life. Throughout her work, she encounters themes of urbanism and city life, reflecting the hustle and bustle alongside the alienation that often accompanies urban living. In contrast, glimpses of nature—fields of green—intertwine with her urban explorations, creating a dialogue between these opposing realms.
Ultimately, her collages testify to the unpredictable nature of creativity and the beauty of embracing the discovery process in art. As she engages with these themes, Goyette aims to convey not just the visible deterioration of societal structures, but also the emotional and sensory experiences that shape our daily lives.
Photo credits: The photographs are from the artist’s archive.
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