Feature Friday - LFCD
Name
LFCD
Pronouns
She/They
Bio
LFCD (she/her/they/them) is a Montréal-based artist whose skills lie in the reconstruction of materials and conveying ideas and issues circling our modern time such as environmentalism, politics, and activism through their artworks. Other times, they simply autopilot their way through making them. Currently, LFCD is fulfilling their goal of graduating with a degree in design, but their ultimate mission is to travel the world as a creative director in the fashion industry.
Instagram
@lfcd.art
We Have Always Played Our Roles
Where in Montreal are you located?
Growing up, I have moved around twice. First raised in Montreal-North, then moved to Laval, and I now currently reside in Mascouche/Terrebonne.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
The best part of my current neighborhood is how quiet and open it is. Living in the north shore, you are mostly surrounded by forests and get occasional visits from wild deers, coyotes, and my favorite, turkeys! The residents are very welcoming and make it a priority to keep family and children safe as they are encouraged to spend most of their time outdoors. I should probably be doing that too but I am an artist.
What’s your favourite art space in Montreal and why?
I can’t say that I have one. I’m always here.
Describe your art practice in your own words.
The one way I could describe my art practice is reconstruction. Since I was young, I have a habit of taking things apart and putting them back together such as pens, toys, etc. And this mental exercise just became my art practice when it came to independent projects.
What mediums do you work with?
Most of my work is digital, commonly illustrations and Photoshop made on Procreate (controversial I know but I am broke). Fortunately since graduating CEGEP, I have started to work on more 3D/sculptural projects and this had led me to become a sort of hoarder (soda cans, soda tabs, water bottle labels, netting from produce packaging, the plastic from greenhouse screens, etc). Just the texture and materiality of an object is enough to inspire me to keep it until it’s use years later.
Describe your current project.
I’m not entirely sure how to describe this project of mine but it does involve demonology. During the pandemic—a time of social distancing (and touch deprivation), I came to realize that many online users and fanbases started to idolize evil characters and real criminals because they were attractive. And this led me to realize (to a certain extent) how shallow people have become since then, making excuses for extremely inappropriate behaviour just because they are physically attractive. So I am currently working on a series where I transform folklore demons into overly attractive magazine cover models while simultaneously keeping most of the original/foreign details with non-traditional colour palettes and texture variety.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Honestly, most of my inspiration comes from whatever random thought I have in the moment. I take in a lot of different types of media like anime, erotica, video essays, comedy shows, and memes that my brain is just a mess of random references that most people will probably not understand. And like a Rolodex I just let these thoughts loop until an opportunity arrives so that they may be developed upon and transform into an artwork.
Describe your creative process.
My creative process involves a lot of research as I like to add layers to my work. For instance, if you give a prompt on trees, my composition will replicate the root system of a tree when seen from above. I’ve received many criticisms about having these little details, mostly that there is no reason to add so much, but I believe that adding these details and specificity is what allows the viewer to fully reflect on what my work is trying to convey. It’s a puzzle you want to figure out like the plot of a horror-indie game. Personally, it just makes it more fun to create and exhibit these works when there is more beyond the surface level of what you see.
What led you to pursue visual art?
Funny enough, my father did. To be raised in a workaholic household it was hard to believe that I could pursue a non-traditional career and be supported by my parent. My father is a cabinet worker who went solo after being frustrated with his workplace environment, and that’s when it dawned on him to inform me that I could do “whatever I wanted as long as I didn’t have to work myself to death to get by”. Since childhood, drawing and visual art was always my hobby of choice since it was something that reminded me of my dad’s art form in cabinetry when he used to draw blueprints for his clients.
Is there any medium you don’t currently work with, but would like to explore?
I am trying really hard to stay away from digital interactive work such as 3D and coding since it is something I have a hard time grasping with all the numbers and symbols. However, I do hope to one day practice this medium as there are ideas in the back of my mind that will be elevated with through this process, specifically fashion pieces.
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