03.09.10
Artist Jeff Ladouceur, straddles the US and Canada. The West Coast and the East Coast, dividing his time between Brooklyn, NY and Vancouver, BC. He just can’t seem to settle down. And although Jeff dabbles in the 3D realm from time to time (he once created a 35 foot inflatable sculpture), his bread and butter is drawing. His work is twisted, funny, surreal, and dark reaching deep within a place most people chose to ignore. It’s his way of digesting the world around him. He also seems to have an affinity for elephants.“I brush away the sand,” Jeff says. “And there they [elephants] are, in one form or another.” Jeff’s work is as strange and sweet, as he is himself, but being very critical of his own work, he still doesn’t feel satisfied. But he promised us he’ll let us know when that day comes.
What inspired you to start drawing?
I’ve never not drawn, and things evolved at key points in my life—at age fifteen I gave up directly copying stuff and just let new images, my own silly images, bloom forth. At 21, the sort of characters and condensed scenes you see in the work now, started to appear, slightly distorted. Drawing was a natural way to digest the world around me and then also you have this object that helps you communicate with others, which can give you a free pass for being awkward.
Did you have any art “heroes” growing up?
As a kid I looked up to and felt a connection with things like Leonardo DaVinci’s sketchbooks and old Mad Magazines and later on I stumbled across people like Crumb, Bosch, Basquiat and Guston.
When was your first show that you thought was successful?
Well, I suppose my first proper solo show was ’successful’ in a sense. Everything sold, it got written up, but it’s rare that I walk away feeling “what a success!’ I am always critical of my own stuff and I have yet to put something forth that I consider ’successful’ or a complete vision put forth.
I will…and when I do I will write you a letter and tell you.
You have a thing for elephants. Explain.
I should have a few prepared bangers for that one, but I would rather hear you explain them (that can be interesting sometimes). They are recurring images that sit nestled amongst a hundred others. It’s beyond me. They emerged in my teen years but I’ll probably be coughing up elephant shaped beads when I’m ninety.
Was there anyone who gave you that little push or helping hand to get your name out there?
Oh yes, of course, I’ll just mention a few cool people; L’Oie de Cravan in Montreal who published a small book of drawings of mine ages ago, that was seen and got me into a group show at White Columns in New York. The writer, Lee Henderson who introduced me to Scott and Andrea at ZieherSmith where I show in New York. Oh, and Jason Mclean, Paul Butler and Richard Heller are awesome too.
You move frequently between Vancouver and New York. What is it about each of those places that keeps you coming back, and what is it that sends you away?
Yeah, it’s a bit of a nervous condition now. I really should settle down, sit still and get some proper work done. In fact that’s what I’m about to do. You’ve caught me at a pivotal moment! I used to wish I could weave the two places together. Obviously nature and family is what brings me to B.C. and New York is home too because there are really great folks there doing great things.
Many of your drawings convey this feeling of bearing heavy weight, with characters struggling to push, pull, carry, or extract something. Where does this come from and has it always been a consistent theme in your work?
Yep, yep. These are just what you end up with after carving away. Some basic images, themes and patterns emerge and recur. Again, I can’t actually explain each one or I’ll start babbling like an idiot, but they seem to arise on their own. It comes from the back, from underneath. Those images you mentioned and may eventually work themselves out, we’ll see. Something else will show up totally abstract or alien—let’s hope for that.
What’s a must-have tool for you and your work? Like if you could only have one item on a deserted island…
Well I can satisfy my urges with basic items, ink and paper, pencil, but on a deserted island I would probably turn to sculpture of varying scale. And my wish would probably be for a wife-buddy.
Are you a sunlight or moonlight type of guy?
Moonlight guy for sure. I was born a moon person. Maybe I’ll take up surfing this summer, and go naked at the beach and find some balance. I’ve met some really sunny people lately.
Jeff Ladoucer’s 35 foot inflatable sculpture at the Vancouver Art Gallery, 2008.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the art world?
Oh, that accomplishment is yet to come. But, so far the ‘biggest’ thing that I’ve done is the 35 foot inflatable sculpture that was attached to the outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2008.
Who are some of your favorite emerging artists?
I’m sure I’m out of touch and there are some hidden gems and secret people out there who I am unaware of at the moment. But some of my favorites are my friends too. I like Eddie Martinez, Matt Leines, Taylor Mckimens, Aurel Schmidt, Tomoo Gokita, Allison Schulnick. Those folks are fairly well known now though, and deservedly so.
What projects are you working on right now? What do you have coming up?
Can’t really talk about it right now, you’ll see soon enough. Just various levels of new images that have been stewing for a while which will be a show and a book.
Where’s your heart at?
It was in my toe, hiding for some time, but it’s coming back up for some light.
