Text by Rhéal Olivier Lanthier
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.
This phrase from James Oppenheim’s poem Bread and Roses effectively synthesizes Danielle Roy’s artist statement. For her project titled It Grows on Me, the artist met with the homeless living in the greater metropolitan area of Paris. She then photographed and decorated their environment with a painted floral pattern – in order to beautify the space and to immortalize the moment. Through this process, Roy challenges the evasive glance of passersby.
From early on, we are programmed to avoid seeing the misery that surrounds us – but we cannot resist the visual appeal of flowers. Thus, thanks to the roses, these wounded individuals have become visible. And who knows, maybe this exposure can lead to some help for them.
