Xxfiles

éli del (Ariane Gagné) aims to dive into crude, visceral and enlightening experiences to come back and share what they have found in the abyss. Their practice makes use of calligraphy, diagrams, drawings, songs and tattoos, tools which allow them to connect to their epigenetic legacy of trauma, poverty, mental health and addiction problems, while invoking an inspiring heritage of witchcraft, visions and spirituality. This process leads to pictorial objects that form an erratic cartography inspired by Chaos Magick, psycho-pop literature and ecofeminist practices. Like molts that result from moments of healing, evolution or involution, their works integrate poetic messages – a sibylline prose that is blurred by sharp and sinuous scribbles and abstruse symbols. This textual aspect of their work is made to be sung, deciphered, or left to interpretation, taking the form of motivational phrases and enigmatic advice that serve as an invitation to regeneration, fluidity and ruin. Graduate of UQAM’s Visual and Media