A rebus is a type of riddle that combines images and individual letters to represent words or phrases. In the 19th century, French rebuses printed on ceramic plates became popular, particularly by the manufacturer in Gien. These plates often featured riddles on the back and covered a wide range of themes, from moral lessons to social and political commentary.
The inspiration for this series came from a plate given to Mireille Perron by the well known Calgary ceramist Greg Payce. It took her years to decipher the phrase inscribed on the plate, as the answer had been erased. Two years ago, she finally uncovered its meaning: “Les Rebus illustrés sont très à la mode par les temps qui courent” (Illustrated rebuses are very popular in our times). This discovery led her to create a new collection of rebus plates reflecting the issues we face today.
The climate crisis has introduced unprecedented phenomena that deeply affect life on Earth. Naturally, these changes are reflected in our language, with terms like "flash flood," "storm surge," "crown fire," and "underground wildfires" now part of everyday discourse. Perron’s rebus plates, designed in both French and English, convey climate change messages and aim to foster a sense of urgency about these global challenges. Much like the rebus plates of the 19th century, they serve as a visual commentary on contemporary issues.
The images on these plates are created using a slip trailing device in a single, continuous gesture, symbolizing the urgency of delivering important messages. This immediacy contrasts with the slow process of ceramic firing, emphasizing the tension between the need for swift action and the reality of acting too slowly in critical situations.
Mireille Perron was born in Tiohtiá:ke/Montréal, Québec. Since 1989 she has been working and living in Moh-kíns-tsis/Calgary, Alberta. She is Professor Emerita at Alberta University of the Arts (former ACAD) where she taught and occupied many roles over thirty years. Perron is the founder of the Laboratory of Feminist Pataphysics (2000), a social experiment that masquerades as works of art/craft/events. Her work has been presented in solo and group exhibitions in Canada, Europe and the United States. She has also written and published on a variety of subjects related to representation.