Looking to experience the global art market while at the same time taking part in a Quebecois tradition? Look no further than the Québec City Biennial, Manifestation internationale d’art or Manif D’Art as it’s affectionately known, being presented for the sixth time.
Manif d’art is unlike most art showcases in that the artists follow a theme when creating their art. For the fifth biennial in May 2010, the theme was the uniquely gripping “Catastrophe? Quelle Catastrophe!” (“What a catastrophe!”) Tragedies of all sizes were explored from the annoyance of spilling your coffee to the devastation of terrorist bombings. The theme was chosen because in recent years catastrophe seems to be everywhere, from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to the earthquake in Haiti. That biennial’s curator, Sylvia Fortin promised “that the biennial would engage with these current issues while also offering futuristic and imagined interpretations of the theme.” Which it did very well.
The sixth biennial’s theme focuses on machines and the shape of movement. Curator Nicole Gingras hopes that the theme will be investigated from all angles, after all the mission of the manifestation is to “promote research and experimentation in art through the presentation of cutting edge visual art from Québec, Canada, and abroad.”
This year, creating art inspired by a machine can be anything imaginable. According to Gingras, it could be mechanical or technical—such as an animation or a recording, or it could be metaphorical—maybe a dreaming or utopian fantasy machine. Either way, visitors are sure to enter the manifestation curious and leave amazed.
Independent curator Nicole Gingras has previously collaborated with a variety of different showcases—from university galleries to artist-run centers, from museums to festivals. She has worked on numerous film, video, and web art programs presented in Québec, Canada, and Europe, as well as programmed the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) Experimental section in Montreal since 2003. In 2005 Gingras won the Joan-Yvonne-Lowndres Award for her meritorious achievement in her curatorial and writing practices.
Located in the heart of Québec City, Manif d’art 6 will take place throughout May and June of 2012. Manifestation internationale d’art de Québec is a non-profit charitable organisation. By experimenting in contemporary artwork, they aim to address the public about the avant-garde trends of not only Québec and Canada, but around the globe. Visitors have the opportunity to view art, experience bilingual (English and French) tours, and attend creative workshops—so that they can be a part of the unique experience of this machine-filled world.