Photo: final artwork (in a temporary location). | Image: digital version of the artwork.
CONTEXT
The artwork "The Sphere of Resilience" was commissioned by Patrick Rochon, CEO and Founder of PREVENTIA Services. This company provides emergency response services and safety procedures to increase resilience and reduce risks for businesses.
When Mr. Rochon contacted me to explore the possibility of a custom commission, he mentioned that what attracted him to my works was that they made him reflect and brought him calm amidst the storm and whirlwind of everyday life.
I was indeed very happy with this comment, as it is exactly what I seek to offer a moment of pause and connection to the present.
CLIENT NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS
The CEO of PREVENTIA had two main criteria:
A large horizontal format was necessary as the artwork would be installed in a specific location in their offices.
The artwork had to represent the universe in which the company operates.
CREATION PROCESS
Information Gathering
The creative process began with a meeting with Mr. Rochon at his office. My objectives were:
Determine his needs and expectations.
Get to know the environment and space.
Understand my client's tastes.
To help me better visualize the company, Mr. Rochon provided me with this word cloud that describes it:
Resilience
Prevention
Planning
Calm before the storm
Crisis management
Vortex
Training
Expertise
Calmness / Return to calm
The emphasis had to be on "resilience".
Research
Following this meeting, I conducted research to immerse myself in the nature of the company and to find images used by the industry to represent the provided words.
Here are some images that inspired me for the creation of the artwork:
Sources: 1) stock.adobe.com; 2 istockphoto.com; 3 istockphoto.com.
Proposal and Sketch
Given the large space to be covered, I proposed that the artwork should contain two frames of 24" x 24" using mixed media (vinyl and acetate).
The left frame would represent the consequences of having neither planning nor prevention. The right frame would represent resilience and the benefits of proper management.
Before starting the creation of the artwork, I presented a sketch to validate with my client the concept described above, the artistic style, and the final cost.
CHALLENGES + SOLUTIONS
The greatest challenge encountered was making highly intangible services tangible. Indeed, my first reaction upon seeing the provided word cloud was to say "phew"!
That said, I immediately embraced this type of challenge, as I enjoy making abstract notions concrete. It is challenges like this one that push my creativity to its peak.
RESULT + CONCLUSION
To date, 'The Sphere of Resilience' is undoubtedly one of the key pieces in my portfolio.
This project has been an incredibly enriching experience, allowing me to draw from the deep roots of my creativity. My background in interior design and marketing was a great advantage in integrating the artwork into its environment artistically, as well as aligning it with the company's brand image.
CLIENT TESTIMONY
The client was delighted with the result and stated:
I am very, very happy with the result. It's difficult to put into words what I do for a living. Your artwork illustrates it well. Thank you a thousand times. - Patrick Rochon, CEO and Founder of PREVENTIA Services
