By Bella Pizza
Rosalie Gagné with her piece, “Pendulum.”
Photographed by Bella Pizza
Montreal-based artist Rosalie D. Gagné brings the clash of nature and technology to life with her immersive, futuristic installations. Her latest work, “Fabrication of Reality,” captivated audiences at the Neuberger Museum on Sept. 18.
At the heart of her exhibition is a striking glass-blown pendulum, inspired by the Foucault pendulum, an experiment that visually demonstrates Earth’s rotation. “I wanted to push the limits of glassblowing as far as I could,” Gagné said. “Using barbed wire to create the structure allowed it to pierce the glass, showing tension between fragility and strength.”
The glass, Gagné suggests, symbolizes the human body—a container of life, much like the water it holds. This layered meaning evokes the connection between our personal struggles and the larger forces at play in the universe. “It reveals the micro versus macro relationship,” Gagné notes. “On one level, it speaks for the individual, the essence of humanity; on another, it reflects the cosmos above us.”
Savas Apsilos, a junior language and culture major, found himself drawn into the piece’s unique mixture of art and science. “Watching the pendulum create helix images was mechanical with a physics aspect. Yet, I feel like I can breathe and move with it,” Apsilos said, sharing the emotional response he felt visiting Gagné’s exhibit.
Carrie Bianchi, the development director of the Neuberger Museum, documented 224 attendees who visited the exhibit. Bianchi sees potential for Gagne's art to have a profound impact on students. “Wellness Wednesdays will bring sound bath healing and yoga sessions under Rosalie’s exhibit,” she explained. Students are welcome to connect with the art on a deeper level.
In addition to the pendulum, Gagné presented her piece Artificial Kingdoms: lifelike jellyfish sculptures that react to human presence, shifting their colors from soft pinks to blues, acting as if they are in the ocean. The receptors on the suspended jellyfish could sense motion circling them. “They liked that!” one audience member remarked as the octopus responded to verbal cues from the crowd.
Gagné’s exhibit, “Artificial Kingdom”
Photographed by Bella Pizza
Gagné describes the intricate process behind creating the jellyfish. "There are fragile, hand-crafted tubes which form its body, each one vulnerable yet essential to the sculpture’s lifelike movements,” she said. The use of LED lights and small ventilators to manage heat evoke the delicate balance of energy and life force inherent in human existence. "I created a monster, and I’m trying to deal with it!” Gagné exclaimed.
Patrice Giasson, a teacher, and longtime friend of Gagné, noted the duality present in her work. “It’s both maternal and sensual,” he said, “evoking nurturing symbols while hinting at deeper bodily connections.”
Through her work, Gagné explores the constant push and pull between control and chaos, strength, and vulnerability—the very forces that shape our daily experiences. Her choice of delicate materials and complex mechanics creates poetic portrayals that capture the beauty and struggle seen in life.
“I hope my work touches people and triggers new ideas,” Gagné said. “It’s about offering the energy and motivation to embrace what life has to offer.” By blending art and science, she invites viewers to reflect on their place within the intricate web of existence.
Once the exhibition closes, Gagné's creations will be returning to Quebec, where L'Image, the contemporary art museum in Joliette, has expressed interest in showcasing her work. The journey back home will involve transporting her work carefully with the help of L'Image. However, the impact of her exhibition will linger in the minds of those who experienced it.
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