A month before learning that she had a brain tumor, Valérie LB, painter from the Magdalen Islands, had a “carpe diem†tattoo, the symbol of “here and now†. A visual arts teacher in a secondary school, life made him realize that his dreams were coming true “here and nowâ€. No time to waste. His dream: to one day be able to make a living from his art with his canvases which arouse many reactions. Three years after this news (malignant mass in the brain), operation canceled and more than ten exhibitions to his credit. His latest exhibition, Love & Pride, is intended to be a tribute to love in all its forms: homosexuality, heterosexuality, transsexuality, racial difference, etc. Its purpose is in part to demonstrate that it does not there is no shame in being sexual beings. With the well-encrusted imprint of Judeo-Christian society, guilt and shame in relation to sexuality remain an obstacle to the emancipation of many individuals and, because we often “wear” what our parents wore, these injuries still wreak havoc on the collective and individual psyche. Valérie therefore goes to the front: “Why would we be ashamed of sexuality since we were created by it? We all come from the same place!†these wounds still wreak havoc on the collective and individual psyche. Valérie therefore goes to the front: “Why would we be ashamed of sexuality since we were created by it? We all come from the same place!†these wounds still wreak havoc on the collective and individual psyche. Valérie therefore goes to the front: “Why would we be ashamed of sexuality since we were created by it? We all come from the same place!â€

The little girl from the Islands!

Valérie grew up in the Magdalen Islands. When her parents divorced, she moved to Montreal and spent her summers with her father, in the Magdalen Islands. Following her studies in visual arts education at Concordia University, she decided to return to her native land, where creative inspiration was abundant there. She believed at that time that the profession of teacher pleased her more than the profession of artist. However, over time, she realized otherwise. Three years ago, on learning of the tumor she had in her brain, she took the “bull by the hornsâ€: quietly heading towards her dream, becoming a painter and one day being able to make a living from her art. â€œThis news pushed me to realize my dream. There’s nothing and no one that’s going to me prevent it. Life showed me how to live, it’s as if she said to me: “Do you want me to give you a reason to live your life today?”, She underlines.

Exhibitions that “shockâ€!

Valérie creates paintings that are related to sexuality, intimacy, love, sensuality, eroticism and open-mindedness. She likes to express the emotions behind these different themes while wishing to remain in a “golden mean”, that is to say that she does not go into the pornographic sphere, but does not dwell in the naked bodies that look like to the paintings of yesteryear. “When I realized the beginning of my series on eroticism, it sparked a “shock factor”, if you can put it that way. People from the Islands used to talk about me: “it’s really terrible, she paints her boyfriend’s buttocks…” (laughs). People’s reactions are variable; some encourage me by emphasizing that it is good to show the human body in intimacy, to others are outraged, especially when they are very religious. I try not to fall into vulgarity on the other hand, it is important for me. I just found that there were no canvases that represented the environment, either we see very vulgar things, or we see things that already exist, living nude models. I try to walk the line between the two, and I discover myselfâ€, she underlines.

“When I paint breasts, a vulva or a penis, I find it beautiful. Sometimes people say to me: hey!, you paint this for hours? Yes, I discover myself in this process… And some say to me while laughing: “Do you like sex, ah?” And I answer them: “Yes, not you?”, she adds.

sexual shame

Initially, Valérie LB herself had to cross her own barriers by assuming these paintings, and by being confronted daily with the comments of certain people. â€œIt’s the side of shame, sexual shame. I was confronted with being ashamed of finding beautiful buttocks, breasts, genitals, or even being ashamed of loving sex. This side, I work on it constantly.

She is not the only one to experience this, these paintings evoke strong reactions in some people, especially women. â€œA good time, a lady came to tell me that she liked my exhibition, but that a certain painting bothered her. She told me that she had to look within herself for the reason for this, I found that good…”

His latest exhibition: Love & Pride in Montreal

Over the past year, Valérie LB has had 8 exhibitions in Quebec. She also has her art gallery in the ÃŽles-de-la-Madeleine, “La Griffe-Valérie LBâ€. Love & Pride emphasizes love in all its colours, whether in terms of nationalities, sexual orientations or even the love we have for ourselves. â€œBeyond sexuality, there is a question of chemistry. The important thing is to be good with someone…â€, mentions Valérie LB. More than 3000 people went to see his exhibition. â€œWe have both sides in us, the man and the woman, maybe one day people will realize that; me in any case, it is my philosophy…».

Her new project: a transgender exhibition

Valérie is currently creating paintings on the theme of transgender and transsexual. At first, she wants to do a series of paintings on men and women who like to dress up, like the “drag queens” for example. She also paints models, male or female, who are in transition to effect a sex change. “I have two role models who are currently male and transitioning to become female and I have two others where it’s the opposite.”

She is aware that this exhibition will provoke a lot of reactions, but she takes this responsibility on herself. “Someone has to go beyond prejudice, love is love, whatever the form…”, she underlines.

In the Magdalen Islands…

For the past three years, Valérie LB has no longer been teaching full time in order to “slide” gently towards the dreams of her child’s heart. In perfect health, she still lives with this mass in her head, which she nicknamed “Rupert”, but which has not moved since she “moved”. â€œPerhaps that’s where my creativity is hiding, in Rupert…he makes my dreams come true!†she says.

If there was a single truth, we couldn’t make a hundred canvases on the same theme.
– Pablo Picasso

To learn more about Valérie LB and her art:

Facebook page: La Griffe-Valérie LB
www.lagriffevalerie.ca
Galerie d’art- La Griffe-Valérie LB 1002, chemin des Caps, Fatima
[email protected]