Our work at art_works often intersects with new-build and renovation projects, and we have been fortunate to collaborate with outstanding architects, designers, and planners in pursuing visionary art programs for our Corporate Partners.
Our collaboration with the exceptional team at Utile stands out. Their meticulously detailed and considered spaces create comfortable environments for people of all backgrounds. What we particularly admire about their practice is their willingness to take creative risks with the art our project partners select and commission. This approach has led to aesthetically impactful and artistically significant outcomes, a testament to the trust and synergy in our ongoing partnership.
Utile approached art_works about commissioning an artist to respond to their office space and firm identity on a wall in downtown Boston. Over a series of working sessions held in Winter 2024, we collaborated with the Utile team and our selected artist, Cyrille Conan, on envisioning what this project could be.
art_works caught up with Cyrille Conan and Utile’s Principal Mimi Love to reflect on creating DIWAR-BENN (à propos), the resulting site-specific mural now on view at 115 Kingston Street, Boston, MA.
art_works: Mimi, we have often collaborated on art programs and projects in the spaces you and your team at Utile. How did the idea for this mural project come about?
Mimi Love: Our office consists of three large rooms, each having a slightly different character and vibe. Cyrille’s mural is located in the room we call 125 (for the street address), and it has a gallery wall with art that we have collected over time. We renovated 125 to include an enclosed office for our growing administrative team, creating a blank canvas ripe for something visually interesting. In working with you on other projects, I met Cyrille Conan and thought he would be perfect for this commission.
art_works: Cyrille, what has your experience working with Utile and art_works been thus far? Do you have any favorite commissions from our ongoing collaborations?
Cyrille Conan: I'll start by saying that I have worked with art_works and Utile on numerous projects now. It always helps when the people you work with are excited about your practice and believe in you. They present a space and direction, and I deliver as best I can.
We first worked together during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. I was happy to have a home studio during quarantine. It was an excellent way to deal with the strange circumstances at hand. I was delighted they asked about these assemblages I had made in 2013. I incorporated old wood that I would salvage around my neighborhood into these 3D constructions that serve as my painting surface. art_works and Utile asked me about painting a mural and hanging an assemblage on it. The enthusiasm made it a fun process; I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
Another favorite project with art_works and Utile was a lobby in Kendall Square in Cambridge, MA. It presented me with the task of breaking down an iconic logo and making it my own. I didn't overthink it, and the making came very naturally. My favorite part was that after making numerous iterations, we chose to produce my very first concept. That felt good; the work was easily birthed, and we made a pretty good team.
a_w: Mimi, how did Utile engage its team in the concept for this mural? What were some ways your colleagues wanted to see the firm and themselves represented in this work?
ML: To ensure our staff's engagement in the mural project, we decided the best approach was for Cyrille to create three concepts for group discussion. art_works and Cyrille presented three distinct ideas, ranging from abstract interpretations of our "u" logo to literal integrations of it into the artwork. Following a robust discussion with the staff, we conducted an online questionnaire to evaluate the merits of each concept and vote on a preferred scheme. The feedback led us to the mural we proudly display on our wall, which abstractly references our logo in its composition.
a_w: Cyrille, how did making this work diverge from and intersect with your practice?
CC: Much like the lobby I mentioned, I was pressed to figure out how to make a logo fit into my world of dots and lines. I generally stay clear of spelling anything out. I like the work to look like it might say something, but it usually doesn’t. There’s always something there that helps guide me on how to start looking at it. One idea spawns another. Here, it was a quirky little window between the street-facing window and the mural wall, along with the proximity of the mural wall to these outward-facing windows.
It’s helpful to look for and recognize a space’s quirks. These can be a window, a divot in the wall, or a brick or wood section. I like incorporating these elements into the mural and keeping things improvisational and free. It’s what I do in my studio practice. Then, it’s the perimeters of the canvas and the collaged elements that I’m working around.
a_w: What was the installation process like for both the Utile team and you, Cyrille? In what ways did the final mural diverge from its concept, and what did that in-person decision-making process look like?
CC: It took five days to paint. The office was full of employees every day—wonderful, friendly creatives. The environment was quite a change from some of the places I make murals lately that are under construction, which can often interfere with the creative process. I had headphones on the whole time while I was working at Utile as a way to focus without being disruptive.
I ended up painting the first concept/idea I had. I always tell people that the mural will slightly change from the mock-up; I make a scale mock-up with a 1:1 ratio to know it will fit in the space. But there’s always something that changes when painting. I make intuitive decisions that encourage the constructive nature of my work. I generally work alone for this reason; I feel like it keeps me in the zone. Producing a mural is a meditative process, and I find it difficult to manage other people while doing so. Though, sometimes, scale and deadlines give me no choice but to hire help. Luckily, I have super-talented artist friends.
The mural came out better than the mock-up. The U looks like it’s vibrating! I like that. And the colors are better as well. I was able to adjust them when I was in the space. There was also the idea of turning the corner, which I just improvised—pleased with all!
I titled the mural DIWAR-BENN (à propos) because this mural is about Utile, their logo, architecture, that little window, and my art practice all at once. I title my pieces in Breton, a Celtic dialect closely related to Welsh, which is my heritage.
ML: Wow! Learning about the piece's title was enlightening, and I think it’s absolutely fitting. The phrase "à propos" means timely, opportune, and pertinent, which perfectly describes the collaboration between art_works, Cyrille, and Utile. On a practical level, we needed something to enliven this blank wall that was begging for excitement, so we seized the opportunity to collaborate with art_works and Cyrille on this project. On a deeper level, I think this mural captures the moment where our practice is focused on being bold and confident in our design approach while being stewards of the built environment. This mural will always mark the enthusiasm and confidence we shared as a practice. I love that we had the opportunity to mark this moment with Cyrille, capturing Utile’s spirit.
Image crediting: Cyrille Conan, DIWAR-BENN (à propos), 2024. Site-specific mural for Utile, 115 Kingston Street, Boston, MA. Project facilitated by art_works for Utile. © Cyrille Conan. Photography by Mel Taing.