Garamon in it's new Montreal Home
In this edition of Inside The Collection, the focus turns to the discerning eye of the collector. While artworks begin in the studio, their lives unfold in the spaces and under the stewardship of those who choose to own them.
Collectors play a decisive role in the cultural landscape. Their choices reveal instinct, taste, and a commitment to surrounding themselves with objects of resonance.
Today we step into the perspective of M.L., whose sensibility for art offers a glimpse into the vision behind a personal collection.
Collector Snapshot
Location: Montreal, Canada
Collecting since: 2021
Newest Piece collected: Garamon
What drew them to the work: “The cultural reference in the work”
It’s a sunny late March afternoon in central Montreal city when I am welcomed into M.L.’s lovely flat. On the second floor, up a flight of traditional Montreal exterior stairs, an internationally beloved architectural feature, I step into the sunlit foyer. M.L. ushers me in warmly for a tour of his home, and collection.
Right from the entrance I catch a glimpse of a frame covered in stickers from various countries visited and events attended. A record of good times.
We elect a structured minimalist grey couch for our conversation. Across from us a vintage hardwood table from Thailand, engraved with bas relief of elephants, horses and palm trees, holds our tea. The room is brightly lit, overflowing with sansevieria, sapling date palms, and a massive aloe vera taking up much of the living room.
The aesthetic coveted in M.L.’s collection harmonizes with the decor of his home. Pulling textures and patterns that mesh to create a colorful, controlled and calm atmosphere. “These objects have a certain aesthetic that calls out to me.” says M.L. “I have an eye for these very specific features,”. He explains that even within his more thematic collections, these aesthetic elements determine which items he adds to the collection.
Repetitive visual elements add complexity. A mix of organic textures juxtaposed with industrial elements of metric proportions create the type intricacies M.L. values. “For instance the Garamon painting has a lot of texture which creates a lot of interesting details, small imperfections which gives the artwork a lot of depth.”
M.L. delights in natural elements as they balance out the functional elements of his home. “However,” he notes “ looking around from here I do notice a lot of robots!” A Nod to his large collection of Bearbricks in his display case, the three most prominently placed ones of which are a set of robot designs. This is the core of the curated collection he boasts. The accessibility of these collectibles and their connectedness to the artworld are what appeals to him. A number of the designers who collaborate on this project are world renown artists, so it lends a lot of credibility to the figures. As a pop culture item, the multitude of variations that bonify the base canvas of the toy keeps it dynamic and fresh. It spans across all aspects of culture from movies, music, visual art, performance, and reaches every country. “When you acquire a vintage Bearbrick, and it delivers in its original packaging, with the small card, in mint condition, it feels like a premium object.”
M.L.’s approach to collecting is led by curiosity. “Often what will happen is that something will spark my interest, then I’ll start researching it and fall into a rabbit hole!” he admits laughing. The object’s history, or that of the person who made the object is something meaningful when acquiring an object. “I find it important that my values fit with the values from which the object originates” says M.L. “I wouldn’t want to be associated with something that doesn’t represent who I am.” This curiosity has opened him to ideas he wouldn’t have considered otherwise. He mentions that as his interest was piqued by certain artworks, or objects, his research led him to better understand groups, ideas, and currents with which he formerly had no affinity. “Through this it’s helped evolve my thoughts and understanding”. His collection has evolved to encompass both local artworks and international art through this research process. “I have the desire to champion local talent, so whenever I have the opportunity, it makes me really happy to encourage someone from here.”
Maintaining a certain emotional distance to the objects is also a part of how this collection is managed. Akin to the concept of non-attachment in zen philosophy, M.L. doesn’t reject the desire to occasionally let a piece go if he’s outgrown it. He mentions honoring the piece even at that time. When originally choosing a piece, the value is evident to him. The object retains its value, even as he outgrows it. He therefore puts as much care into finding a niche for the object as it leaves his collection, as he did recruiting it. “If it was an object I cared enough to add to my collection, I would never coldly discard it”.
Noticing his tattooed forearms, I venture the question as to whether he considered his tattoos as part of a collection in its own right. He beams. “Yes! I choose them just as carefully as my objects.” He has collected these tattoos from various artists, locally and abroad, and intends to add to the number. He points to one of his tattoos, “ this one is from a Brazilian artist,” and another “this one is from a French artist.” You can see the aesthetic of his physical objects reflected in his choice of artwork & artists for his tattoos as well. A thread of harmony runs through his preferences.
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The collectors featured in this series share a clear instinct for atmosphere and composition. Their homes are not galleries in the formal sense, but carefully curated environments where art sits alongside design and daily life.
More often than not, collecting rarely begins with sense that a particular work already belongs in the room you have yet to place it in. Most thoughtful collections begin with a single, well-chosen piece.
Trust your instincts.
