FONDATION PHI & CENTRE PHI this spring!

 

Between the two curators, on the left Cheryl Sim, on the right Daniel Fiset, the artists that revealed a whole new way to use technology! Although not all the artists could be present for the press tour on March 7 2023 here are all their names: Dara Birnbaum, Chun Hua Catherine Dong, Mara Eagle, Brendan Fernandes, Francisco González-Rosas, Ilana Yacine Harris-Babou, Helena Martin Franco, Nation to Nation, Skawennati, Shanie Tomassini, Wu Tsang, VahMirè (Ludmila Steckelberg), Quentin VerCetty, Nico Williams

FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche

A 12 inch self-portrait 3D printed

biodegradable polyester silk

filament sculpture by VahMirè

(Ludmila Steckelberg)

FONDATION PHI

March 9 → July 9 Terms of Use

This is one of the most important and revealing contemporary art exhibition of the year. Usually, non aficionados of the art scene complain that they don't get what the artists are trying to say, or don't get abstract works that have inspired the artists. This exhibition's meaning is very clear, Gen Z has found its medium to paint sculpt produce movies videos music and it is wild and challenging!

The distinctive features of the exhibition are the use of technology and the main concerns of the artists who, for the most part, have grown up with cell phones, new rules of gender identification (and forgive me if I don't use the correct term) and the climate crisis.

As always, young humans look for meaning, self-identity and direction from what they have learned so far. How has that learning process been impacted by the filter of social media including the extraordinary human knowledge expansion they grew up with? Then there is the influencer phenomena where a person can be followed by millions and earn a luxurious lifestyle from posts on social media. These are some of the themes I saw addressed by the artists in this exhibition and I had to meditate on it.

As I was meditating on it I read a comment on an Instagram post: Germaine Richier (1902-1959) @centrepompidou. « The purpose of sculpture is first of all the joy of the person who made it. We must be able to feel their hand in it, their passion. » This is the opposite of the 3D printed sculptures you will see in this exhibition! Although the artists must work to produce their art, it does not flow organically from their hands. The VahMirè example on the left shows the cerebrality of the artist's process: from 360° photographic process to the printer = sculpture!

What surprised me the most comes from dazzling two-channel colour HD video projection by Wu Tsang The Looks, 2015. It illustrates how tiresome being an influencer is as the lead protagonist struggles to come up with new creations that will keep millions interested in her work! This video was produced in 2015! So much has changed since then. 

On a positive note, I trust that these artists like today's youth will find rightful solutions to their dilemmas and I hope they continue to explore our evolving times.

For more information HERE

PHI CENTRE

March 22 → June 11 Chaos & Memories 

Left: meriko borogove Right: Matthew Shaw of Framerate: Pulse of the Earth

PHI Centre has always brought us cutting edge art that explores how far our technology will take both our reflexion and creativity. Framerate: Pulse of the Earth has accumulated years of data through 3D scanning to showcase a different view of life on Earth. For example I asked Matthew Shaw why all the landscapes had black skies. He then clarified that 3D scanning does not photograph like a camera but rather it accumulates data. ( trailer )

We enter a darkened space after taking off our shoes. There, several HD screens will show the accumulated data: plants growing, animals arriving at the slaughterhouse, quarries being dug relentlessly, people moving about and houses, buildings rising and falling. I was devastated by observing how we treat animals. It is quite engulfing and moving.

To accompany this extraordinary piece you will also have access to Taiwan Spotlight, a collection of four VR experiences : 

All That Remains - Craig Quintero (2022) - trailer

Red Tail - Fish Wang (2022) - trailer

The Man Who Couldn’t Leave - Chen Singing (2022) - trailer

MISSING PICTURES Episode 2: Tsai Ming-Liang, The Seven-Story Building - Clément Deneux (2022) - trailer

For more information and tickets HERE

All photos © Lena Ghio, 2023

FINALLY! A RETURN OF THE INFINITE

Starting May 3, 2023, Embark on an extraordinary Journey to Space

Space Explorers: THE INFINITE Returns to Montreal with New, Awe-Inspiring Content

Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, the groundbreaking VR experience that seized the Montreal public in 2021, is back with mesmerising new content at a brand-new location in the Old Port of Montreal, starting May 3, 2023. With inspiration drawn from NASA's missions, Space Explorers: THE INFINITE is the largest immersive space exploration experience to date, lasting one hour long.

I will write a review after the press in early May tour but you can buy your tickets HERE.

LENA GHIO   

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