When I was little and my parents were checking out at the grocery aisle, I would wander over to the greeting cards and wait. It was only upon discovering the floral-fronted sympathy cards that I began to realize death was all around us. With a history as banal as its[Read More…]
Art
Reclaiming space: Celebrating Indigenous artistry at McGill 
Art has always offered new ways of seeing, providing glimpses into diverse worldviews and creating futures that we can strive to inhabit. On the evening of Feb. 7, the University Centre Ballroom saw a group of artists, students, and educators interrogating these multiform possibilities, recognizing the potential for art to[Read More…]
Wieland exhibit at the MMFA wears its heart on its sleeve
Joyce Wieland stares with dots of navy for eyes, a dash of white for a nose, and no mouth. She is pale and faceless, yet her portrait seems to pose defiantly. She is challenging us. Heart On—which opened at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) on Feb. 8—commemorates Joyce[Read More…]
Unravelling preconceived notions about contemporary art with ‘Ravel Ravel Interval’
When I find myself pushing open the heavy glass doors of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art’s Contemporary Art Square, I am admittedly apprehensive. I’ve never been drawn to contemporary art pieces, often finding that they lean so esoteric as to feel alienating. My expectation for Anri Sala’s piece, Ravel[Read More…]
‘Costume Balls: Dressing Up History, 1870-1927’ probes imperial myths behind the glitz
In 1870, Montrealers adorned themselves with velvet and tassels and silk, and then made their way to the ball. Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Arthur—the namesake of rue Prince-Arthur—was visiting the city for the year. No expense was spared; there would be a costumed carnival, and it would be on ice.[Read More…]
‘Witches: Out of the Shadows’ demystifies the resilient witch
The final room of Witches: Out of the Shadows is one of the most powerful exhibition endings I have ever witnessed. Kiki Smith’s bronze sculpture Woman on Pyre lies atop the centre pedestal, engulfed by a circular structure of distorted, geometric mirrors; it confronts the senses, inviting viewers to witness[Read More…]
AM Kanngieser’s ‘Listening as Coming To’ transports you through time
This fall, the PHI Centre is hosting Habitat Sonore: A Kind of Harmony, a series of six sound exhibitions created by different artists. Each event comprises an in-depth interview with the artist, followed by a collective listening experience for the sound piece. Most recently, the centre welcomed audiences on Oct.[Read More…]
‘Two by Two, Together’ bridges the gap between art and viewer
Two by Two, Together, the latest exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), displays works that have been acquired by the museum over the past five years. Open as of Sept. 11, the exhibition groups together a multitude of works by both local and international artists from 440[Read More…]
The contradiction of The Art of Banksy Without Limits
Art from the renowned Banksy—whose real identity remains unclear—has made its way to Montreal. The Art of Banksy Without Limits, an internationally-touring exhibition being held at La Maison du Festival, advertises 170 works by the world-famous street artist. However, only 40 of the works have had their provenance verified by[Read More…]
Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools subverts time
Standing in the final room of Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools, I find myself transported into an era abundantly different from my own. My eyes glance over the drapery of richly pigmented paint layers, taking in the synthesis of colour, subject, and function. On the walls hang over 20 paintings,[Read More…]
