Alice Marie Perreault

All The King's Men
Shoebox Projects, Los Angeles

This mixed media installation references an English fairy tale that stems from the fall of powerful leaders. Jump forward in time and Lewis Caroll resurrects the main character in egg form in his story, Alice Through The Looking Glass.

In “All The King’s Men” purple studs of an open wall slice through a setting that is subtly absurd under the guise of structure. Wood, plastic, metal, glass paint, oil paint, resin, rubber and egg-shells are tenderly placed to reveal the quiet residue of caretaking through an undying nature of love.

Meticulously handled, art materials are paired with medical necessities within a domestic setting to intersect art with science and civics. Fragility is a means to strength that stretches people’s limitations, most of which are self-imposed and influenced by outside agencies. This narrative sits on the awareness of death as fodder for human adult behavior, be that behavior just or unjust in the wavering landscape of power and judgment.

In ‘All The Kings Men,’ I meant to reshape the metaphor of Humpty and bring him home to a setting that is ‘no more, no less’ than what I claim it to be*- a reaction to the neglect I witness for people who are the most dependent. Considering the popular, albeit fictional, conversation between Alice and Humpty about mastery to change the meaning of any word, I set out to change the original fairy tale- or at least, the ending for which, I know may not be reached in my lifetime.

'All The King's Men' was temporarily installed at Shoebox Projects
Los Angeles for a brief showing on September 16, 2018
Photo Credits: A.M. Perreault, Kristine Schomaker and Jill Carol

* Referencing Lewis Caroll's Alice Through the Looking Glass