Two Birds on a Wire is a 4-channel video installation that follows two main protagonists, Caveman and Spaceman. At the outset, both these characters find a certain dissatisfaction with their lives. Then, out of the blue, a certain solution presents itself. It is a seductive vision of what things could be. They each set out to capture and put into practice this idea in their lives. In doing so they realize than in order to regain that spark they will need to take on characteristics from the other, in effect, bridging the divide until who’s to say who is ‘spaceman’ and who is ‘caveman’.

An alternate way to think of these two characters is that they, in some way, define what an idea is. When we have an idea, the early stages are luminous and wonderful; the idea is the best thing in the world, its immateriality is perfect. In that way it mirrors "Spaceman": everything is in the head, it's all ideal. But when the time comes to communicate this idea, to bring it into the world, it all falls apart. The messy aspects of the real world make themselves known. One mucks about to give it some form, it takes on its own life, always different and separate than that glowing original idea. That's the "Caveman" part, banging sticks together to try to get that spark back.

The drawings in the exhibition portray one of the most important themes from the video installation, that of the shared spirit of several characters: How two characters in separate spaces can be joined in their state of mind or how multiple individuals can ‘set the tone’ psychologically in a single space. The medium of ink and graphite can deal with this in a more direct, and physical way than video can. The drawings have the possibility of breaking up or melding spaces in ways that video can’t. It is a parallel exploration of ‘the two birds’, these sides that inhabit us, and, in finding their own balance, create who we become.

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Pierre St-Jacques Bio:
Pierre St-Jacques is a Toronto-based artist working in video and a variety of 2D media. His work often takes the shape of multi-channel video installations, or drawings. He also likes to keep a sketchbook as a way of putting down a series of thoughts, in finished form, almost as a series of mini performances.

St-Jacques has shown both nationally and internationally. Having lived in New York City from 1999 to 2022 many of his exhibitions have been centered around the NYC area. He has shown his work at Artist Space, Station Independent Projects, the Bronx Museum, BRIC, Gallery 1313, Remote Gallery, and Metaphor Contemporary amongst others. He has taken part in a multitude of art fairs such as DiVa, the fair for video, Scope, Bridge and Pool. He has also been part of a series of film festivals such as the Montreal New Cinema and New Video Festival, the Berlin International Director’s Lounge and the Chelsea Film Festival amongst others.

St-Jacques recently completed a new 4-channel video installation entitled Two Birds on a Wire will premiere at Station Independent Projects in Toronto along with mixed media drawings inspired by the new video work.