Nicolas Gadbois www.cementarts.com
Artist's Statement

Since 1990 I have been making paintings using cement as a medium. The works are both paintings and bas relief having an earthy, textural, tactile quality about them. My visits to petroglyph sites in the western United States led to my interest in working with cement. The symbolic inscriptions of ancient people range from identifiable animals to complex geometric or abstract forms. I am attracted to the mysterious power that certain signs and symbols evoke. Viewing the landscape from an airplane has played a significant part in the formation of my cement works as well.

The paintings communicate a sense of topography and orientation. What interests me about the imagery is that it can seem to appear ancient and futuristic at the same time. Although the paintings are essentially abstract they are created based on a system of rules and logic. My current work consists of a series of tablets made of cement, plaster, acrylic and polyurethane with earth pigment tints. The works resemble cuneiform markings and suggest computer circuitry as well as primitive archaeological sites. There are a combination of earth forms and man-made architectural forms in a single piece. The works are small, measuring 12" x 10" and invite up close scrutiny.