Samuel Roy-Bois at Wil Aballe Art Projects

Artist: Samuel Roy-Bois

Exhibition title: It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system

Venue: Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver, Canada

Date: November 13 – December 18, 2021

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system.

Assumption #1

All the sculptures in this exhibition have existed well before I even started to make them. I showed up and moved some of the aggregated particles that had form the matter. I moved particles around, removed chunks, displaced dust and dirt. I pushed stuff out of the way. All these sculptures existed before I showed up to the studio: all materials were already floating around, the colors were already inhabiting the world, the required skills already in use, the forms and ideas already recognized and circulating. I facilitated the emergence of a tangible manifestation of what would otherwise only have been a fleeting mental model.

Assumption #2

We disagree with the trajectory that matter is taking, and realise that the only form our disagreement can have is the transformation of that said matter.

Assumption#3

The objects I created are meaningful from the mere fact of their existence. I am an agent exclusively motivated by the purpose to bring a certain information into the future. I concluded, for some vague reason, that art-making was the best strategy to bring that little bit of information further down.

Assumption #4

Sculptures must portray the performing of their own making. The gestures leading to the emergence of a form are visible, the choices made in their conception must be manifest. That clarity is however only there to conceal the unadulterated darkness of the unknown, and entertain the obscurity associated to travelling through the unidentified.

Assumption #5

All fabricated objects are the manifestation of a form of anticipation. We build things because we expect something specific to happen. We make because we fear. Most of the fabricated objects surrounding us are tools created in anticipation of changes. The pieces in this exhibition are an attempt to repress a reflex of anticipation. There is a minimal amount of fear involved in the making of these sculptures.

Assumption #6

The only relationship with reality that we are aware of is a simulation. Objects have the potential to provide the narratives that can explain, justify and reassert the model inside which each of us is living.

Assumption #7

Any object has the potential to carry meaning unrelated to its initial purpose.

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system, 2021, exhibition view, Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Black Corner) (detail), 2021, Wood, paint and found object 50 x 15 x 14 in (127 x 38.1 x 35.6 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Red Corner, Wall), 2021, Wood and paint 25 x 11.5 x 11.25 in (63.5 x 29.2 x 28.6 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system, 2021, exhibition view, Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Mulberry Corner), 2021, Wood, paint and found object 48 x 18 x 15 in (121.9 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system, 2021, exhibition view, Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Pink Lavender Mesh), 2021, Wood, paint and found objects 49 x 22 x 19.5 in (124.5 x 55.9 x 49.5 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system, 2021, exhibition view, Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Yellow Stick), 2021, Wood, paint and found objects 44 x 23 x 19.5 in (111.8 x 58.4 x 49.5 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Salmon Mesh), 2021, Wood, paint and found objects 47.5 x 19 x 8 in (120.7 x 48.3 x 20.3 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Silver Corner), 2021, Wood and paint 65 x 18 x 15 in (165.1 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Locker, Bucket and Blue Mesh), 2007, 2021, Wood, paint, found objects and hardware, 79 x 32 x 20 in (200.7 x 81.3 x 50.8 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system, 2021, exhibition view, Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Forest Green Perforated Corner and Clear Cabinet), 2005, 2021 Wood, paint, clear acrylic and hardware, 36 x 12.5 x 7.5 in (91.4 x 31.8 x 19.1 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s not me, it’s my central nervous system, 2021, exhibition view, Wil Aballe Art Projects | WAAP, Vancouver

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Buckets and Black Mesh), 2021, Wood, paint, found objects and stone 21 x 30.5 x 23 in (53.3 x 77.5 x 58.4 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Bucket and Red Mesh), 2021, Wood, paint, found objects and stone 20 x 24 x 13 in (50.8 x 61 x 33 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Yellow Mesh) (detail), 2021, Wood, paint, found object and stone, 16 x 24.5 x 13 in (40.6 x 62.2 x 33 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Light Pink Corner) (detail), 2021, Wood and paint 70.5 x 30.5 x 30.5 in (179.1 x 77.5 x 77.5 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Bin and Yellow Stick), 2021, Wood, paint, found objects and stone 23.5 x 11 x 7.5 in (59.7 x 27.9 x 19.1 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Yellow Stick) (detail), 2021, Wood, paint and found objects 44 x 23 x 19.5 in (111.8 x 58.4 x 49.5 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Pink Lavender Mesh) (detail), 2021, Wood, paint and found objects 49 x 22 x 19.5 in (124.5 x 55.9 x 49.5 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Silver Corner), 2021, Wood and paint 65 x 18 x 15 in (165.1 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Light Blue and Lemonade Pink Panels) (detail), 2021, Wood and paint 71 x 18 x 20 in (180.3 x 45.7 x 50.8 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Pink Lavender Mesh) (detail), 2021, Wood, paint and found objects 49 x 22 x 19.5 in (124.5 x 55.9 x 49.5 cm)

Samuel Roy-Bois, It’s Not Me (Buckets and Black Mesh) (detail), 2021, Wood, paint, found objects and stone 21 x 30.5 x 23 in (53.3 x 77.5 x 58.4 cm)