We were lucky to catch up with Marie-Chloé Duval recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marie-Chloé, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Voyage’s Bold Journey Series
1) Where do you get your resilience from
I am not sure, I will probably wont be sure about any of these questions to be franc. If I knew the exact answer to those, it would be easy to pin point and for any moments of doubts or any one to look back on the exact reason to grow and adapt. Yet, it is not that easy as we all know. Resilience is a process, it is a learning that never ends and that builds up on small and bigger elements.
I had a big accident in my life that left me seeing how life was fragile, yet I never saw this as the end. I never see things as an end, small or big hardships are not the end. I have this very positive mind and I always see moments of doubts, stress or challenges as being a learning experience. This way, even if it is hard, I am embracing them (as much as I can, and some times later, after I gain perspective). I am learning to give myself time and to not always be feeling good. I think that this is also essential. Resilience is about processing and choosing, not denying the emotion.
2)Where do you get your ethic from
I started working at 11 yo. I cleaned houses, I babysitted, picked strawberries and more before being a allowed to have a real job at 14. This was always while being super involved in my school extra curriculum activities. This thought me so much about being efficient, productive and organized. All along, I think that I always had this great ethic and surely I did because I respected the people I worked with. I never thought that people should pay for my weakness or for cutting corner. If you care for other, you cannot do your part halfway, in a job or a relationship.
As a kid, I was doing many activities, some I liked more than others, but I always wanted to try new things. My parents were happy to drive me to those and encourage, yet, if I was enrolling in something, I had to finish it, like it or not. It really thought me how life work. I hated some days doing the piano practice for an hour, I wanted to quit, but I had no rights to. I did eventually, when the year was over. Then only, I was given the choice to continue or not, but I had finished what I had started. This has been one hell of a great life lesson, cause sometimes you do not know what is around the corner and in putting the work and effort in you can be very surprised by how you change.
3)How do you get your self-confidence from and develop it
I would say that I always had this confidence in me. I realize with time that it had to do with 2 key elements.
One is that I have always been going into things with enough naivety. Never fell that something was too big or too hard. I see everything as doable. Obvisouly, many times I am facing challenges and I am laughing at myself thinking I thought this would be easy. But without this core feeling that everything is doable, I would probably not embark on so many challenges. I never wanted to keep doing something I know well, always seemed boring to me. I always wanna try and learn further. This probably got me to seem like a confident person, but it is not just a confidence thing, it is an eagerness to accomplish and push myself further.
Second, is that I have this ability to focus and see the positive, it is like the bad outcomes are non existent. Of course, they exist in the reality, but I never perceived them as a failure. It always appears to me as a learning experience. I often make this rational calculation of cost benefit. The cost is often fear of not succeeding and it never appered to me as big enough of a cost to the benefits of living a new experience, meeting new people, getting better at my art, or gaining a new sensibility. This way of seing what a new challenge brings to my life versus what I would “loose” really put things in perspective.
I think that confidence isn’t not being scared, it is just to want something more than being scared. I doubt anyone is so confident they are sure they can achieve everything. I never seen myself as confident as much as not afraid of the outcomes.
4)Where does your generosity come from
I for a long time struggled with this concept as I always feel I am not giving enough. With time I did realize that giving is not a materialistic thing, well, nothing should be in fact. Life is about relationships, moments, and kindness.
I am always there for my friends and family. Sometimes people think being generous is a materialistic traits, for me is giving time and being supportive, putting my people’s needs before mine.
I am learning to put mine first too, but I tend to make a lot of my decision based on being present for the people I care about. I honestly do not know other ways around. With the years, making relationships a priority, and I mean in my career and my personal life, became so important. It is not easy. I am at an age were my career is so important, but I could not stand succeeding to have no one to share it with. It would be worth nothing. I wanna enjoy the ride. I am still working on this balance between the end goal and the path taken, but I like to think that overall I am a present friend who cares and shows up.
It is funny, cause I did not think about all the volunteer work I have done since I was a kid when I first read the question, but I do believe it is essential. Life is not meant to be enjoyed alone, and the whole purpose to be good at something is to be able to give and share it away. For exemple, every time I did volunteer work, or hosted people (and been hosted) as a couch surfer, I have seen the beauty of humanity. I wanna keep living in this world where life is shared, enjoyed, and somehow a little more fair, as much as possible.
When I decided to become an artist, I needed to speak with other people, I wanted to learn, I needed mentors, and I found them. Every chance I get, I always make time to talk with people who have questions about the art world, and share as much as I know. There is no finite success, when another person wins, we all win (we’ll, that is debatable, but this is how life should be, and if I can apply it to my little bubble I sure will live by this vision).
How did you overcome imposter syndrome
This was so so present during my first degrees (Ba and Master) in criminology. I have been doing better since I switch to fine arts. Maybe it is because I am so sure I am doing the right thing, what I am supposed to do, and what brings me energy and happiness. Obviously it is not always sunshine and rainbows, I have moments of doubts, thinking I am not enough; enough proactive, good enough, talented enough, enough.
Of course, sometimes I see artists I admire and I feel like I am not talented enough, but I shake it off quickly and remind myself that I only have to focus on my own work, be satisfied with it, love it, and that it is only about my work. I talk to myself and also tell myself that no matter where any one or I will ever be, we all feel insecurities at times. Living with it, understanding were they come from, what triggers them, and how to overcome them is actually a very healthy process for me. I always feel like I am learning from it and confirming what I am doing and why I am doing it. It gives me energy. I am telling myself that if I don’t feel like I belong, well I should work to feel like I do. Most of the time I do. Then, it goes the other way around. I never wanna be overly confident or stop growing. Life is a balance and we cannot escape it!
Being the only one in the room; have you learned to be effective even if you’re the only one in the room looking like you
Yes, of course. It is scary because you cannot seek confort in your “peers” yet, it is then that you can learn and shine. I never wanna be a copy cat. I am not one to be loud or seek attention, but if I am in a room and I do not “fit” well I am pretty sure I will have great conversations. Why would I want to discuss about things I already know or believe ? Life is a conversation and you need to be having them with everyone, specially with people who can make you see new elements, opinions or experiences.
5) Where your optimism comes from
*not sure here, I feel like I am bragging, and being repetitive*
Life would be again so easy if I was able to pin point this answer. As far as I remember I was always quite positive. However, I think that is it something that with time and experience you decide to prioritize. Writing it feels wrong as I am aware that free will and choice is not really always possible and I feel terrible to be writing that you can decide and chose to be positive. It is not easy even with all the elements being presented to you. Yet, for myself personally, it is something I feel is a bit in my personality and some traits I am nurturing in the way I decide to handle situations I am facing. It comes down to seing it as a learning experience again.
6) How did you find your purpose
I am a simple girl who grew up in a village in the east of the province of Quebec and who has been fortunate enough to have had a very unique academic and life journey. I am not one to follow a traditional path: I like to reflect on what works for me, follow my instincts, and create a unique life. Challenges profoundly motivate me. After traveling the world, learning English and Spanish, and being exposed to various ways of living, I have spent the last decade in Montreal (while often leaving abroad for projects) before moving to NYC in 2022. All this travelling taught me a lot. I have learned about me, but mostly about others. Although I went around the globe, it is right here in my Province, at the northernmost part of it, on Inuit land, that I had felt the most like an outsider. In 2018, I was hired to lead an art program as part of a youth criminality reduction program centered around a summer hockey school. I faced more challenges than I had ever before: the language, the traditions, the lack of resources. I felt so lost. These two months really shaped my personality and changed me in the best possible way. I confirmed that art was way bigger than myself, than me making it. It is a mean to connect, share, grow, and inspire.
I started seeing myself as an artist and creating more and more during my 2013 gap year. I had completed my bachelor’s degree in criminology, and I was thinking about the next step. While completing my Master’s (How Do the Media Write About Judicial Cases?: A widely reported murder story in the spotlight) my passion for art crystalized, and in 2016, I chose to postpone the start of my PhD in socio-criminology and make a living creating art. It was a real coup de Coeur, a decision based on deep feelings, on instinct. Since 2016, I have been a full-time artist constantly pushing myself to improve. In fact, I have decided in September 2020 to go back to school, this time to study fine arts at Montreal’s Concordia University.
My art is part of a process of highlighting polarizing oppositions. Through my art I wish to encourage social questioning, open dialogue, educate and democratize art. Inspired by scientific articles rooted in sociology, law, and psychology, I create works that invite discussion, without pretension. I have a visceral desire to break down taboos and to open up thinking. I am fulfilling this desire by giving various talks in schools and by being very involved in the art scene as a volunteer on boards and art committees.
My role is the one I have been building since day one, to be a positive element in people’s lives and help them believe in themselves. I’m not talking about sharing an easy speech, but about inspiring through my actions and my support. I feel blessed to have a background in social intervention, academic research and recently, in the arts. These hats give me a unique experience that serves me in my daily life. I am confident that I will continue to create the future I want to see. In this sense, I sincerely believe in education, in providing positive role models and in developing the potential of young and old alike.
I see my art work as a tool to open up dialogues. I wish to continue to push my work and its visibility in order to have the opportunity to create open, inclusive and positive spaces for discussion. Whether it be through workshops, conferences or involvement in my community, I want to give and share.
Coming from a small town, I never had the opportunity to meet different career and lifestyle models. I believe that it is important for me to continue to keep my involvement in my childhood community alive and to show that everything is possible with hard work and effort, that there is a world of possibilities for the future of young people. In this positive discourse I want to continue to talk about the difficulties, I do not advocate at all that everything is rosy and simple.
In sum, I feel that my purpose came into my life later, when I had enough experience to be able to understand and embrace it. Art just fell and feels great since day one.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As an artist I believe it is very important to be able to navigate the practice in the studio and the marketing part of the work. I try to keep those very alive while separate. I do not want to be affected by the marketing while I am doing my work, it should not be influenced, yet, for people to see it, I am aware of the work it involves.
At the moment, I am working on planing and researching for my new series, starting my MFA (master in fine arts) in NYC in the fall 2023, and developing my network and the opportunities in NYC.
From a very personal experience, I feel that there is not one way to do things and there is no end to the work you can do. However, I feel that staying very true to myself and doing things that feel right for me as always been my way to go. Art is not a brand, but people do relate to the artists as we put our emotions and vision on canvas (or other medium) therefore it is often a part of us. I always keep it very “me” and I think that putting the boundaries of what I want to share and keep personal is very important.
As an entrepreneur, there is no clean line of working / not working. I gathered many tools to be organized and make sure that I can separate as much as possible.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I read a piece about passion and devotion years ago that really was a great inspiration in my life. Having the passion is key, yet it won’t work for you. You have to be devoted and put the work in. I was never the artist to believe that the inspiration is a divine thing hitting me when I least expect it. I work, 6-7 days a week, I sit in the studio, I have a road map, I have to do list, I have an organization, and when I do not feel like doing the work, I do it anyways.
Be devoted.
Be honest.
Listening to your gut is key, information and influence will come from every sides and you need to know why you are doing what you are doing and stick to it (but grow!). Be honest and be open, this is not a solo dance!
Take risks.
Nothing is easy and for sure you can “get lucky” but the work and the calculated risks can only pay off. You may win, you may learn, but nothing ever comes out as amazing from staying confortable.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
One is definitely related to moving country from Montreal to NYC. Learning new codes, making friends, navigating a new life isn’t easy but it is feeding me with so much that the lows I have experienced and will experience are soooooo worth it.
Moving to a new country thaught me a lot about myself and my work.
In my practice, I am facing the challenge of: What’s next. I have been working in a specific series for a while and that was very fulfilling, yet, I feel ready to face new visuals. It is not easy to paint new visuals while wanting to make sure I keep my essence. It is honestly the most scary thing but I feel that I am at a crossroad and I need to leave some things behind. I am searching how to express and translate my vision and message into the right images. This is gonna be an amazing yet painful transition and I have been fearing it, but I am ready.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
I am not at all scared of having a set date. Maybe this would actually help. We can lose a lot of time on things that are not very important. Knowing you have 10 years, I would make the best out of it. I already am, but there are still things that are not very important. I would stop having the fear of missing out or not showing up for things I do not care, I know this is ironic, knowing I would die soon would, I believe, give myself less guilt or fear of not doing it all.
I would definitely spend my decade the way I have been spending life, but I would cut everything I do not enjoy like rushing to things, feeling you need to do it all, choosing work over a weekend with family, etc. I would spend this last 10 years painting, traveling, reading, writing, and sipping on good coffee and good wine. I would spend it with people I love and a beautiful table full of food and great discussions. And maybe, I would push the limits of my mind and my body, I would probably make some kind of social experiment and gather the “results” to serve who’s coming after me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mcduval.com/en/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duval.art/
Image Credits
Portrait: Keith Selby Works: Duval
