MADSKILLS

12 display Video Installation with sound

Developed in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) in Montreal and curator Hester Keijser, madskills explores the rise of self-documentation in the construction industry, where younger generations equipped with smartphones and social media skills film their work environments, machinery, and local construction techniques. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become the stage for showcasing these tasks, giving the public a behind-the-scenes look at the pride, humor, and expertise of tradespeople, often met with enthusiastic feedback such as "mad skills."

This project, which culminated in a video installation created by me and an archival selection from the CCA's extensive collection, examines how these viral, self-made videos impact the public perception of labor. By blending the contemporary content of self-documenting workers with historical representations from architects, engineers, and artists, madskills provides a contrasting narrative on how construction labor has been and continues to be visualized.

These archival materials often depict workers as anonymous laborers, whereas today’s self-filmed videos highlight their individuality and agency. The project also incorporates interviews with construction workers, offering insights into their experiences and motivations for sharing their work online, raising questions about control over their own image in the face of social media's reach and influence.

As part of a broader, ongoing investigation at CCA into the intersection of photography, new media, and the built environment, madskills offers an open-ended research approach, examining the ethics and authorship on digital platforms and considering whether the scrutiny of online communities can influence construction standards and worker conditions.

Curator
 Hester Keijser

Curatorial team
 Emma Rath, 
Charlie Anne a Cote



Graphic Design
Christian Lange



Design Development 
Sebastian Lariviere, Anh Truong



Digital Production
 Camille Lavalee Prairie


Exhibition Photography Matthieu Brouillard