This composite is the culmination of Cath Simard’s journey to an elusive red lake in Peru, a quest showcased in her first documentary ‘’Bleeding Blues’’. After an initial visit in 2022 that left her yearning for more, Cath knew she had to return—this time in solitude, without the pressure of the camera, to fully immerse herself in the creative process.
This second journey, two years later, was not merely a repeat of the first, but a deeper, more introspective exploration of both the land and herself. Alone with the red lake, Cath could finally connect with the landscape and execute the vision she had carefully planned. Free from external distractions, she spent countless days in high altitude surrounded by the vibrant, rugged and disappearing beauty of the red lake. Day after day, soaking in the ever-shifting hues of the terrain, the silence, the sound of the glaciers collapsing and the isolation. Here, the emotional and creative disconnect from her first expedition dissolved, allowing the vision she had once held in her mind to slowly materialize before her lens.
The resulting artwork is a testament to this two-year transformative experience—a merging of the raw, elemental forces of nature and Cath’s internal voyage. It is the embodiment of Cath’s journey, a reflection of her struggle, her resilience, and her ultimate creative triumph. Bleeding Blues stands as a symbol of artistic perseverance and the beauty of revisiting a dream until it is fully realized.
“Le bleu, c’est la tranquillité. La solitude, le calme, l’absence de bruits. Le bleu, c’est le ciel, les lacs, les glaciers, les montagnes, la nuit et l’isolation. Le bleu, c’est ce qui apaise mon esprit. Le rouge, c’est la passion, l’énergie, le sentiment d’urgence, l’obsession. Le rouge, c’est le dur travail de l’esprit et du corps. Le rouge, c’est le dévouement pour la création de mon art. En fusion, ces couleurs décrivent mon aventure au Pérou. Les hauts et les bas, la tranquillité et le chaos, l’obsession et le laisser-aller. Les grands moments d’émotion et ceux plus petits qu’on oublie parfois. Certaines personnes voient la vie en noir et blanc. Pour moi, cette expérience, je l’ai vécue en rouge et bleu.”
‘’Blue is tranquility. It’s solitude, calmness, and the absence of noise. Blue is the sky, the lakes, the glaciers, the mountains, the night, and isolation. Blue is what soothes my mind. Red is passion, energy, a sense of urgency, and obsession. Red is the hard work of the mind and body. Red is the dedication to creating my art. In fusion, these colors describe my adventure in Peru: the highs and lows, the tranquility and chaos, the obsession and the letting go. The grand moments of emotion and those smaller ones that are sometimes forgotten. Some people see life in black and white, but for me, this experience has been lived in red and blue.’’