IDEAL SELF (2011)

My very first performance artwork was when I asked a makeup artist to age me artificially for my university graduation photo.
This photo symbolizes the perception of insufficiency generally Students towards their current self.

Montreal, May 15th, 2012

I am writing these words backwards.

The feeling I have today, nearly eight months after taking this photo, is far from the strong sense of purpose within me that I had when I was preparing my shot. It is indeed much more humbly that I will outline these few personal reflections, that ultimately justify the relevance of this work of art. You are free to keep your own interpretations, or accept these few thoughts.

The memory of this gesture appears to me so heavy today, that I sometimes consider it to be my own and sometimes as oddly strange, depending on my mood. But I could never regret it, for it has taught me so much.

To those who would judge me too quickly, this publication is dedicated to you,

To those who would share an opinion, it would be an honor for me to listen,
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And to those I have bothered, great.

- Olivier Corneau -

This photo is primarily the result of a merely aesthetic vision; innovative in the name of innovation. This graduation being a timely and unique event, as well as fireworks surrounding its celebration, I felt a duty to take this opportunity to do things differently, to not get into a mold, to not follow the steps. This opportunity also gave me visibility fixed in time in the history of an institution, in the graduation album of all those who surrounded me during those three years ... what more to ask!

The idea came to me and it filled me with energy so intense... that I was swimming against the current, as hard as it could be. I was going to grow old artificially for the time of this photo, and thus thwart any logic. $ 200 makeup, $ 70 photo, DEAL.

Surrounded by people who, like me, studied and worked hard with the aim of eventually becoming this ideal of themselves (self-created or imposed from outside) I was wondering what would be the effect of accessing this ideal-me prematurely. However, like a transvestite who remains a man in a woman's appearance, I was going to stay a child under an adult's skin.

Having realized this vision that haunted me, thanks to an overwhelming dose of innocent trust, I found myself getting much more reflections and interpretations than I expected. I thought to converge my energy and essence to a work of concrete art, which could have an impact on the world. Instead, I created a bomb, with some mundane materials I had at my disposal that I finally have exploded in my face, leaving me with far greater personal questions than those I believed to impose on people.

My first intention was to capture a unique moment in the life of an individual (graduation is a strong symbol of success), and turn it into a unique work of art, which would affect this singular event, but also discussions at the time and the physical, tangible items that accompanied it.
When the photographer asked, awkwardly : "Why are you doing this?" I simply replied "To create a parasite work of art." This sentence was improvised and did not yet make any deeper sense to me.

My thoughts after the event revolved around the will of an individual to control the uncontrollable, read here the rhythm of time, and age of the body. Far from me is the willingness to discuss the existence of a supreme Creator, but rather to highlight the curious phenomenon of the desire for a mortal creature to rise to the rank of Supreme Creator. This year will be the one for me where I am playing my time and my own body, except that for the time of this photograph, and I agreed to take on my shoulders the weight of a too heavy title that of creative Creator. So it will obviously be on shaky legs that I will begin my first steps in this direction.
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It is in front of an insatiable and hungry for entertainment public that I will evolve soon, but it's allright, because I am also insatiable and hungry to push the boundaries of entertainment.

​Olicorno