BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS

AN INCURSION IN CHILDREN'S FANTASY WORLD

Undertaken to punctuate and serve as a creative impetus to the content of my book Aux sources du merveilleux, une exploration de l’univers des contes, an essay published in 2011 about the role wonderment plays in folk and fairy tales, my series Beyond the Looking Glass probes the fluid boundaries between the imaginary and the real in childhood.

Photo of a child walking into the woods holding a lantern
Photo of a child walking into the woods holding a lantern
Photo montage of a child embracing a tree-like figure with woman's arms
Photo montage of children playing leap-frog with goat horns on their heads
Photo montage of a child transformed into a cat alongside another cat
Photo montage of a child hunting for a giant frog
Photo montage of a child eating octopus soup with feet underwater
Photo montage of a child's torso in a cemetery with a little angel
Photo montage of a child standing near her grand-mother in a hospital bed
Photograph of a child rowing in a boat on a lake
Photo montage of a child arms outstretched like a bird
Photo montage of a child brewing a magic potion in a castle
Photo montage of a child laughing in the forefront, looking at the moon in the rear
Photo montage of a child walking on a railway track floating on the ocean
Photo montage of a child looking at the camera and behind her at a wedding dress
Two children sit like queens on a red marocain sofa
Photo montage of a child blowing soap bubbles in front of na old barn
Photo montage of a child holding an umbrella on a pathway floating in the coulds
Photo of a child hiding her face behind her crossed arms
Photo montage of two children standing under a ghost-like figure

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

The dreamlike images from this series blur the boundaries between reality and fiction as they portray the ways in which children use their imagination daily to venture, much like Alice in Wonderland, down the rabbit hole — a pursuit which allows them to release inner tensions and overcome the difficulties encountered by their developing selves. Indeed, a child's fantasy life is kindled by a combination of contradictory fears and desires which, through play, help him to better deal with the very real pressures of growing up and having to shape his identity in a constantly changing body. Pretending to don the skin of a furry animal, to disappear magically, to fight off monsters or become omnipotent allows children to safely explore and balance out the different facets of their blossoming psyches. Tinged with poetry and expressive candour, my whimsical trompe-l'œils are invitations to dive into the teeming, colourful reverie of a child actively negotiating his place in the world.

TESTIMONIALS

« The exhibition Beyond the Looking Glass was a wonderful success in Dorval. Visitors came in large numbers and were charmed by the fantastic images of Catherine Rondeau. An experience not to be missed! »

Sara Giguère, cultural agent, Peter B. Yeomans Cultural Centre, City of Dorval, 2017

portrait dessiné de Sara Giguère
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a photo booth with an underwater setting
Photo booth, CNE, 2020

CULTURAL MEDIATION POSSIBILITIES

During exhibitions, the photographic series Beyond the Looking Glass lends itself wonderfully to several types of cultural mediation activities aimed at young audiences. Even adults will get into the game!

Learn more about the cultural mediation possibilities.

VIDEO

In this video, I discuss the functions played by imagination in the psychic development of children and I give some keys to understand the works in my photo series Beyond the Looking Glass.

Don't forget to display the video's English subtitles of needed.