Paintings, photographs and sketches fill the walls of the Mennonite Heritage Centre’s art gallery. Reymond Pagé’s 275 days is an exhibition inspired by the 275 days he and his family spent traveling around the world. “I think it began with a realization that we needed to do something different and that we wanted to do something as a family,” explains Pagé. Each piece of art is a step in the family’s incredible journey.
“What I saw, what moved me and what remains with me now,” he states when asked about the theme of his exhibition.
Pagé and his family spent 275 days in 11 different countries, including India, Italy and Cambodia to name a few. His two children were only 10 and 12 when they left on their trip. 275 days is Reymond Pagé’s first solo show.
“Before this trip I don’t think I’d been further from home than Vancouver or Quebec City,” says Pagé. He takes inspiration from everything around him. “I think if we’re able to see the greatness in all people, see the wonder in all things, dismissing them with a wave of our hand or sweep of an unmanned drone becomes an impossible task.”
Pagé consistently changes his medium throughout the exhibition. Whether you are face to face with a wall-covering portrait or finding details in a colorful photograph, each piece is a new experience. The subject of his artwork is also constantly changing. “I’m trying to convey that sense of power that I felt in the presence of these particular people, but also the many people we met. Making these faces large, and having a number of them together, adds to that feeling of power,” says Pagé of his large portraits.
Another highlight of the exhibit is the doors, windows and stairs series — a poster-size collection of pictures that are unique in the way they capture the simplicity of doors, windows and stairs. “It’s the cumulative idea that the group of images has greater power than a single door or window.” The posters each contain a number of different doors, windows or stairs.
His detailed sketches are an honest interpretation of every lifeline on a face and decaying infrastructure. Page enjoys the simplicity of pencil sketches. “Anyone can do it — there are no barriers, no special equipment, no real technical process. Just put the pencil on the paper and make marks.”
Importantly for Pagé, the trip was “275 days of family time.” Next to the paintings he has included family stories, such as one about bringing a sharp knife through the Vatican security. A lot of his pieces keep you asking questions about the history of the artwork. His photos confirm that somewhere in the world these people and places exist, a more personal touch to the “National Geographic experience.”
Pagé leaves us with a few words of advice: “Beware of cow stomach served to you as a meal. The Indian desert can be a very cold place for a Manitoban. I would recommend this kind of trip to everyone.”
275 days runs until Nov. 13 at the Mennonite Heritage Center’s Gallery, located at 600 Shaftesbury Blvd.
