Arc dans l'Arc

Joanne Tod's highly representational paintings draw attention to the biases of her chosen medium. Her latest work explores the institutional display of art and artifacts. Meticulously depicted here is the maquette of the Arc de Triomphe on display inside the Paris landmark. Focusing on the model's reflection on its Plexiglas container, Tod describes her attraction to this curious subject: "Rather than functioning as a mere replica of the original, it has a presence and gravitas that gives it sculptural autonomy ... The model is mirrored in the glass planes of the vitrine and in the shiny black base. These peripheral elements reiterate the notion of doubling, the arc contained within the arc."