ERIC TARDIF
The grace and beauty of birds in flight has inspired a great of variety of artistic interpretations, but perhaps none are unique as Quebec artist Eric Tardif's. His wood sculptures capture the elegant and graceful movements of birds through abstract expressions. Unlike most abstract art, Tardif's designs draw from a lifetime of close observation. Eric's close encounters with birds, begun during his work as a naturalist in the wildlife reserve of Cap-Tourmente QC, inspired a creative desire to convey their beauty through art.
To achieve this, Eric adapted an ancient technique to realize his vision. Steam bending is a process in which heat vapor is used to make wood slats pliable for builders. It was originally used to build boats and bows, as it allowed the wood to be shaped into curvaceous structures. Eric saw in this technique the perfect medium for his artistic ambitions, and he began experimenting with different kinds of woods, such as walnut, maple, ash and cherry from Quebec.
The results of Eric Tardif’s labour are exquisite abstract sculptures that reveal gracious shapes and forms.
