Maddie Thompson of Niverville has her sights set on a career in architecture, and an assignment from her Grade Twelve art class has her on her way.
Thompson, who graduated from Niverville Collegiate earlier this summer, was tasked with creating five original art pieces. One of them was a large model of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) in Winnipeg. She named the piece 1948, after the year that the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“It took me almost two months to build it,” Thompson says, recalling the creation process. She started by amassing a large quantity of cardboard and hot glue, and then began creating her pattern.
Undaunted by the museum’s unusual shape, Thompson says she used images of the museum.
“I went on Google Maps to take screenshots of the building, and started drawing out each piece I would need, making sure to label them,” she says.
The CMHR was designed by world-renowned architect Antoine Predock, who is known for his use of unusual shapes and angles, and his sculptural style. Thompson says that the ability to put one’s personality into a building is one of the things that interests her most about architecture.
“[Architecture] gives a different kind of artistic freedom,” she says. “Architecture is always evolving. Many artforms stay similar throughout the years, but architecture is always changing with new design ideas and trends.”
The design of the building isn’t the only thing that drew Thompson to the CMHR as the basis of her project.
“It’s more about what the building represents in general,” she explains. “Inside are stories and lessons to be learned about human rights, the spreading of awareness as to what is truly going on in this world. With this piece, I didn’t want to only represent an issue with the world but also a solution.”
All of the art she makes deals with issues facing the world, she adds, such as climate change, peace, or human rights. For Thompson, awareness is key.
“Sometimes we take our rights for granted and don’t notice that others in the world don’t have the same privileges as us,” she says.
After her class’s art show wrapped up, Thompson loaned 1948 to the CMHR. While there, Thompson, who will be attending the University of Manitoba in the fall, took a moment to pose for a photo with CMHR President and CEO Dr. John Young.
1948 is now on display in the back of the museum for the enjoyment of museum staff and volunteers.
