Opening September 12, 5 to 8PM
The title of this exhibition was inspired by the artistic practices of Maria Hupfield, David Lafrance, Manuel Mathieu, Rajni Perera, and Cindy Phenix. It poetically encapsulates various relationships with the natural world: from mysticism to agronomy, from tranquility to eco-anxiety, from the self to the collective, and from the collective to the whole.
MARIA HUPFIELD
The work My Body Remembers the Story that Lives on the Scales of the Rainbow Trout echoes the Anishinaabe aadizookaanag (foundational story) on the origin of the rainbow trout’s name. The tactile manipulation of this piece, which generates auditory effects, reflects the artist’s exploration of materiality and cultural memory, delving into the theme of interspecies knowledge transmission. First presented at the inaugural SWAIA Native Fashion Week 2024 in Santa Fe, this work transcends the conventional boundaries of art to engage with living traditions.
DAVID LAFRANCE
Nestled on the slopes of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, David Lafrance’s studio extends beyond its walls and blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Once a source of inspiration for Ozias Leduc and Paul-Émile Borduas, this region is now the fertile ground for Lafrance’s meticulous observations, which capture its transformations in real-time. Though he intially created imaginary landscapes, his current paintings convey a total sensory immersion—a visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory anchoring in the space he inhabits.
MANUEL MATHIEU
Manuel Mathieu’s work is shaped in part by his upbringing in Haiti shortly after the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship and his experience of emigrating to Montreal at the age of 19. His art explores themes of historical violence, erasure, and resilience while interrogating physicality, nature, and spiritual heritage.
RAJNI PERERA
In her diverse body of work, Sri Lankan-born artist Rajni Perera explores diasporic mythology through the lens of science fiction. Drawing on personal experiences and engaging with the environmental impacts of colonialism, she imagines triumphant, alternative worlds. In her recent works, she challenges the traditional separation between humans and the natural world, advocating instead for a vision of symbiosis and co-evolution.
CINDY PHENIX
Cindy Phenix has made a name for herself on the international stage with her expressive visual language centered on compassion and ecofeminism. A graduate of Northwestern University’s Art Theory and Practice program, she draws inspiration from inclusive discussion groups to create works that question power dynamics. Her immersive installations and paintings engage with societal tensions and ecological crises, exploring the role of the collective in these issues.