Canadian artist Andrée Pouliot calls herself a visual storyteller. Her 55 gouache-and-pastel miniature paintings were created especially for the 1001 deck.
Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Andrée completed an honours programme in graphic art before moving to India, where she lived for 17 years, in the ancient city of Jaipur. There, she applied the classical training she’d received — in techniques as various as photography and Japanese brush-painting — to her work in textile design.
During her years in the Orient, Andrée also expanded her studies to include Indian miniature painting, Hinduism, and the mythologies of India and Persia. Her research of classical Indian dance and erotic literature, Sanskrit love poetry, and the wide range of fine indigenous handcrafts of Rajastan have all influenced the character and quality of her art.
After returning to Canada in 2000, Andrée applied her diverse talents to assisting in research, documentation, and acquisitions for an exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation entitled India – The Living Arts.
Andrée’s more recent projects include digital animations and sound pieces for the web, based on her own stories and paintings. One such piece, My Life In India Over Three Centuries, was funded by a grant from the City of Ottawa Arts Funding Programme. Her work has been exhibited extensively in Canada, the U.S., and England.
Through her multi-faceted studies and experiences, Andrée has become a link between Orient and Occident. The 1001 cards are a perfect, intricate synthesis of her artistic style, abilities, and interests.
Andrée Pouliot’s website is www.andreepouliot.com
The photo of Andrée is from “Artistic Entrepreneur from Canada with a Love for India,” a web page presenting an article about her that was published in the August 2008 issue of Expat Magazine (New Delhi).
