Paris Gutters | The Project
2002
Collection - Ron Huebner Archives

Photographic Image Collection

In 2001 Huebner was awarded the Canada Council Paris Studio Award and in 2002 nominated for a Governor General’s Award in the Visual Arts. While at Cité internationale des arts in Paris he conceptualized and created a substantive project that intended to provide the viewer with an insider’s perspective on poverty and survival – struggles Huebner intimately related to. The resulting body of photographic work is timeless in content and is as relevant today, if not even more so, than when conceived. Above is a selection from the collection.

This body of work consists of a series of photographic images of Paris taken from the perspective of what might be seen by a small rodent – from the street gutters. Huebner placed the viewer in the position of considering a perspective of looking from the “inside OUT rather than from the outside IN”.

“The content of this body of work is a play on perspective in the most literal and poetic manner. It is an attempt to re-examine ourselves, to look at our world from ground level, curb level, a perspective rarely seen or imagined. This work comes out of a direct response to the world I live in and is a reaction to the impending reality and ever increasing difficulty to survive.” RH

Living on a Prayer | Installation Proposal

“This piece is primarily about living conditions and came out of a very difficult economic period of my life. It centres around state of the arts living conditions – which are beyond your control and ultimately about a desire to make sense out of a situation and find consolation within to continue.” RH

In addition to the Paris gutter images Huebner also envisioned a related installation titled ‘Living on a Prayer’ with the major element involving four select gutter images. These were to be presented at a greatly enlarged scale, hung on four opposing walls. In various archival documents Huebner identified these as being anywhere from 2-7 meters in height, dependent upon space and budgetary considerations. Other installation components were never realized by Huebner prior to his untimely death. In the 2018 Ron Huebner | Enduring Spirit solo exhibition at the O’Connor Group Art Gallery in Chilliwack, BC, the Archives digitally reproduced, one of the Paris Gutters images substantially enlarged. The image exhibited was 3 meters wide by 4.25 meters high – in keeping within the parameters of Huebner’s original vision. Images of this scaled realization of one of the images can be found below.

“As we live in great times of question and uncertainty, the work I intend to realize is intended as a meditative reflection which deals with the aspect, the inner journey, the state of being which is external, ambiguous and predominantly outside of one’s control.

Firstly, 4 large photographic images, which I extracted from the gutters, the inside of various Paris street curbs: the perspective seen here is similar to that what might be seen by a small rodent or rat. The viewer is left here with the unusual perspective of looking from the inside OUT rather than from the outside IN. The 4 images which I have chosen from many, could also be considered in terms of seasons. The photographic images will be further computer generated to an image size of... up to 7 meters in height.

Accompanying these images will be a semi-circular sofa form, cast from concrete. Within the form itself will be an actual and internal water system, water fountain which is circulating water inside. As this piece is functional, the viewer will be able to sit down and experience a metaphorical water hole which can be FELT but not SEEN.” RH