Veronique Duplain is a Canadian artist who has self-taught herself all the skills she needs to create her art. She is the mastermind behind the #SelfieProject, which she came up with many years ago to gain experience taking portraits.
The project involves setting up a scene, dressing up in handmade clothes, taking a self-portrait, and then posting it on her Instagram every day throughout February. This project is a blend of photography, art installation, performance, and social experiment.
With the help of the Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal, she has been able to continue pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with this project. Veronique works every year to keep the project fresh and engaging while also challenging herself to create something unique and meaningful.
Over time, she has amassed quite a collection of self-portraits, each one telling its own story. Those who are interested in seeing her newest images from the 2021 #SelfieProject can find them on her Instagram page.
The page is continually updated with new images, and she's always looking for feedback and suggestions. Veronique is passionate about what she does, and she's devoted to creating meaningful art that speaks to people.
She's excited to continue this project in the years to come and hopes that others will follow along.
The artist says: "I was born an artist! I never knew I was an artist until one of the biggest art collectors in Montreal told me, but it makes sense. Imposter syndrome you know, I still don't feel I fit in the box, but people have told me through my selfie project that I am the truest artist they know because there are no boundaries to what I do."
The artist says: "I started this project because I was very motivated to shoot portraits one day, and none of my cute friends were available. So I took place in front of the camera, and I loved the process so much (no pressure, full creativity) that I decided to do this for 30 days. And I did."
The artist stated, "The most difficult part of the creative process would be to stay creative and bring an image every day for one month that is strong, visually appealing, with a good message, and that people can understand easily. I enjoy seeing that most often than not, I succeed in doing so!"
The artist proclaimed, "I love and I’m grateful for having the liberty to be creative. I am allowing myself a full month where nothing can interfere with my art and that is the biggest gift I can give myself."
By creating images of themselves, artists can explore their own identity and self-expression, as well as engage in self-analysis and self-reflection. Some of the most famous self-portraits include those by Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Rembrandt.
Today, self-portraiture remains an important medium for artists to connect with their audience and express themselves creatively.