John Francis is a graduate of Concordia (Master’s degree, 1981) and McGill University (1983). Among the galleries to have shown his work are the OPTICA artist-run centre (1981), the Joyce Yahouda Gallery (1985) and the Horace Gallery in Sherbrooke (1987 and 1989). His work engages the viewer at both a physical and psychological level. Made from a variety of materials, including cables, steel sheets, copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, metal wire and rubber wheels, his sculptures demonstrate his singular talent for integrating disparate elements into a homogeneous whole. Drawn to the science of alchemy, he has used neon lighting as a metaphor for human consciousness, while his Oiseaux Alchimiques (“alchemical birds”), Animaux Alchimiques (“alchemical animals”) and Rampes (“ramps”) series symbolize notions of transition and the phenomena of transformation.
SEE:
« Dark Dreams : Reflections on the Sculpture of John Francis » by James D. Campbell, ESPACE #23, p. 33.
