Quebec’s National Museum of Fine Arts is innovating. His new exhibition Weon view in the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion, offers a diverse and varied look at 69 works from his collection.
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The closure of the Charles-Baillargé and Gérard-Morisset pavilions due to construction work on the future Espace Riopelle, which will begin in the autumn, prompted creativity from the MNBAQ staff.
Until the opening of the new space dedicated to the Quebec painter and sculptor in 2026, the Pierre Lassonde pavilion will be the only one open to the public.
“Our intention is to maintain an exciting, attractive and innovative program. With a new exhibition format, we dare and take risks,” said General Manager Jean-Luc Murray during a press visit.
In contrast to the usual thematic exhibitions, Us offers a cross-reference to oneself, to others and to us through the themes of identities, migrations and territories. We find, without chronological order and without an imposed narrative line, works by about fifty artists.
“The works were chosen to raise questions. We find an artistic diversity in which we find all the media of expression, and a temporal diversity,” said Guillaume Savard, Director of Conservation at MNBAQ.
Thoughts
As an example, he cites the work Adolphe, Auguste, Eugène and Alphonse Hamel by Théophile Hamel, created in the 19th century, which rubs shoulders with Lune d’automne, a contemporary art canvas by Dan Brault from 2014, which he considers unprecedented.
Star works such as Alfred Pellan’s Conciliabule, Riopelle’s Untitled and Jean Dallaire’s Coq Unicorn meet more modern works by Marie-Claude Pratte, John Heward and Caroline Elijassiapik.
On the walls and floor, thought-provoking questions developed by Lynda Champagne, philosophy teacher and consultant,
Who am I ? what defines me What would we be without others? What is a home when you are a nomad? Do you sometimes have to be on the moon and why? are among the questions we discover within ourselves.
“It’s a different approach to artwork. We can’t wait to see the public’s reaction,” said Josée Duhaime, Director of Outreach and Visitor Experience.