Pourquoi les raffineries?1973-2017
Impression numérique
Digital print
Edition 15
102 x 76cm (40 1/4″ x 30″)
Photo: Guy L’Heureux
Unveiling of the work Pourquoi les raffineries? (Why the Refineries?)
At Galerie Hugues Charbonneau
With the kind collaboration of Galerie Simon Blais
(First event of the series 8 Artists; 8 Situations)
Françoise Sullivan, a signatory of the Refus global in 1948, to this day remains one of the most inspiring creative forces of our arts community. From very early on in her career, this accomplished pluri-disciplinary artist ventured beyond established art dissemination sites to work directly with nature and the city.
As an initial step to further this spirit of pushing the boundaries and challenging the norms of the contemporary art gallery, this coming June 21 we will inaugurate an original summer program. 8 artistic situations conceived by 8 artists will be displayed in outdoor and virtual spaces as part of this project
In our view, it was very apropos to invite Françoise Sullivan for the opening evening of this series of events. In addition to counting the artist among us, we will also have the honour to unveil one of her recent works: a digital assemblage based on the “walks” she performed in Montreal during the seventies.
The gridded composition is rhythmically punctuated in the manner of a musical score; it is carried by the artist’s gestures and the verticality of the stark smokestacks looming in and out of vision behind the billowing smoke of the oil refineries. With a highly effective economy of means, the contrast between the artist’s free movement and her austere surroundings refers us back to the work’s title: Why the Refineries?
The Gallery is grateful to the artist for her generous acceptance of this invitation. We also extend our thanks to Simon Blais and Paul Bradley for their enthusiastic contribution to this project.
After June 21, the work will be available for view by appointment only.