Laur P
If Daffodil Was an Egg

From February 15 to March 16, 2024

Galerie Nicolas Robert Toronto is pleased to present If Daffodil Was an Egg, a new body of work by Laur P. Using painting and sculpture, Laur P reflects upon negative effects of transness–such as envy, disorientation, and depersonalization–through a subversive reimagining of the myth of Narcissus. These new paintings incorporate physical impressions of a pre-transition body–reflections the artist themself cannot recognize–which they used to approach self-portraiture as an abstractive mode of dis- and re-figuration. The fields of painterly fossils stand alongside material aggregates composed with falsified substances, plaster casts, remnants from failed experimentations, fragments of paintings on paper, and miscellaneous objects from the artist's collected trash. Together, the paintings and material assemblages aim to destratify one's search towards self-recognition.

Laur P is based in Tiohtià:ke-Mooniyang-Montréal. They hold an MFA from the University of Guelph (2021) and a BFA from Concordia University with Great Distinction (2015). Throughout their academic background, they received several awards including the Joseph-Armand-Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship (SSHRC, University of Guelph) and the Betty Goodwin Prize in Studio Arts (Concordia University), and their current program of work is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Their work has recently been exhibited in Montréal (Galerie Nicolas Robert, McClure Gallery, McBride Contemporary), Toronto (Galerie Nicolas Robert, the Plumb, Birch Contemporary) and New York (Sargent's Daughters). They recently exhibited two solo presentations, at Sargent’s Daughters (New York, August 2023) and at Galerie Nicolas Robert (Toronto, February-March 2024). Laur P's work is part of the collections of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Hydro-Québec, the Royal Bank of Canada and Medcan, among others.

Laur P would like to thank to Canada Council for the Arts for their support.

Exhibition text

$Laur P, Now carrying an eternity of dysphoric refractions , 2024, Plaster, cement, canvas, steel wool, nail polish, dry pigment, amethyst (from childhood collection), cigarette wrappers, metal chain puzzle, acrylic paint, desiccant packet, paper pu$

Laur P, Now carrying an eternity of dysphoric refractions, 2024, Plaster, cement, canvas, steel wool, nail polish, dry pigment, amethyst (from childhood collection), cigarette wrappers, metal chain puzzle, acrylic paint, desiccant packet, paper pulp, 35.6 x 25.4 x 9 cm (14 x 10 x 3.5 ")

Laur P, Our petrified shells never ceased to make room, 2024, Oil, acrylic, aluminum leaf, and oil-based adhesive on canvas over panel, fragments of plaster and cement casts, plaster, dry pigment, paper pulp, steel wool, concrete sealant, fiberglass, metal armature, 183 x 152.4 cm (72 x 60 ")

Laur P, Always scanning minor magics’ leftovers, 2024, Oil, acrylic, aluminum leaf, and oil-based adhesive on canvas over panel, 182.9 x 152.4 cm (72 x 60 ")

Laur P, Us that were never down to earth, us who knew nothing of stasis, 2024, Painting from 2016 (oil on wood panel), watercolour, acrylic and aluminum leaf on paper, plaster, cement, paper pulp, dry pigments, epoxy resin, soy wax, unfired clay, concrete sealant, beads, acrylic paint, metal chains, rocks from the artist’s childhood collection, silicone, solder metal, steel wool, fiberglass, dried plants, plastic sheet, 116.8 x 96.5 x 14 cm (46 x 38 x 5.5 ")

Laur P, Before extraneous lines appeared on our chest, 2024, Plaster, concrete sand, dry pigments, solder metal, unfired clay, oil paint residues, drywall tape, aluminum foil pan, piece of plastic, ice melter salt, metal wire, oyster shell, concrete sealant, 45.7 x 40.6 x 15.2 cm (18 x 16 x 6 ")

Laur P, Remember the wake that came after the last attempt, 2024 Plaster of a hand, paper pulp, dry pigments, acrylic paint, soy wax, dried wild cucumber, metal can, piece of wine bottle, solder metal, silicone, receipt, latex mold of an oyster, cement, plaster, 47 x 38.1 x 10.2 cm (18.5 x 15 x 4 ")

Laur P, The figure’s rebirth unfolds in a leaky silence, 2024, Oil, acrylic, aluminum leaf, and oil-based adhesive on canvas over panel, fragments of plaster casts, plaster, dry pigments, paper pulp, cement, concrete sealant, plastic sheet, epoxy resin, fiber glass, metal armature, 182.9 x 152.4 cm (72 x 60 ")

Laur P, At last, our reshaped contours will be welcome, 2024, Plaster cast of gloves, rocks from childhood collection (muscovite mica, phlogopite mica), unfired clay, dry pigment, beads, steel wool, concrete sealant, pill bottle, cigarette butts, ice melter salt, plaster, 52 x 36.8 x 9 cm (20.5 x 14.5 x 3.5 ")

Laur P, I feel for you, sad loves, 2024, Watercolour, acrylic and aluminum leaf on paper, plaster, cement, red wine, soy wax, solder metal, piece of wine bottle, plastic pill packaging tray, 40.6 x 41.9 x 10.2 cm (16 x 16.5 x 4 ")

Laur P, Will our record misrecognize us too?, 2024, Oil, acrylic, aluminum leaf, and oil-based adhesive on canvas over panel, 182.9 x 152.4 cm (72 x 60 ")

Laur P, Between flowering machines, 2024, Oil, acrylic, aluminum leaf, and oil-based adhesive on canvas over panel, fragments of plaster and cement casts, plaster, trans tape, soy wax, dry pigments, paper pulp, solder metal, concrete sealant, oil-based ink, fiberglass, metal armature, 183 x 152.4 cm (72 x 60 ")

Laur P, Offbeat, scratching at wordy membranes, 2024, Watercolour, acrylic and aluminum leaf on paper, plaster, epoxy resin, latex mold of abreast, silicone, metal chain puzzle, dry pigments, 39.4 x 33 x 12.7 cm (15.5 x 13 x 5 ")

Laur P, There there, another blink, another green alibi, 2024, Watercolour, acrylic and aluminum leaf on paper, fragments of plaster casts, dry pigments, epoxy resin, acrylic paint, silicone, trans tape, concrete sealant, 54.6 x 40.6 x 12.7 cm (21.5 x 16 x 5 ")

Laur P, While the petric figure grows numb and the pool dries, 2024, Oil, acrylic, aluminum leaf, and oil-based adhesive on canvas over panel 40.6 x 30.5 cm (16 x 12 ")

Laur P, Those who made it through ages and those who couldn’t, 2024, Fragments of plaster casts, epoxy resin, paper pulp, dry pigments, piece of plastic tray, solder metal, plaster, concrete sand, aluminum foil seal cap, plastic container, cigarette butts, flakes of abalone shells, latex mold of a carton box, 48.3 x 45.7 x 15.2 cm (19 x 18 x 6 ")

Laur P, When the rays sweat a softer kind of anger, 2024, Plaster, cement, paper pulp, dry pigments, metal wire, plastic glass, plastic sheet, solder metal, plastic lid, epoxy resin, oil-based ink, dead leaf, oil paint residues, two pills of Citalopram 20mg, plastic leaf, concrete sealant, 54.6 x 47 x 16.5 cm (21.5 x 18.5 x 6.5 ")

Laur PIf Daffodil Was an Egg

Laur P
If Daffodil Was an Egg