Among Canada’s foremost contemporary art biennials, Manif d’art 8 – Quebec City Biennial will present, from February 17 to May 14, 2017, the work of over 100 artists from all disciplines. In addition to its exhibitions, the event will offer a constellation of activities based on the theme of The Art of Joy, as defined by curator Alexia Fabre. A total of 35 cultural organizations have helped to make this international festival an unmissable event for novices and specialists alike.

Joy at the heart of the Biennial

“Today more than ever, joy is a battle, a shield to protect ourselves from overwhelming events,” explains Alexia Fabre. “Here in Quebec City, for three months, the works will affirm this notion of joy. Jubilant, troubling, radiant, amusing, caustic and poetic—all will embody this force, since the essence of art is joy.”

A word from the Curator ►

The curator of this 8th edition has brought together artists from Quebec, Canada and abroad who will reflect upon the meaning of this theme, The Art of Joy. A vast circuit of interrelated exhibitions will take place throughout the city. Altogether, 45 artists from 7 countries will be exhibiting their works at 30 sites, each artist selected by the curator in collaboration with the artistic committee composed of Claude Bélanger, Executive and Artistic Director of Manif d’art, Bernard Lamarche, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ), and Assistant Curator Anne-Sophie Blanchet.

The central exhibition inside an architectural jewel

For the first time in the history of the Biennial, the central exhibition will unfold in an institutional setting. In keeping with its innovative spirit, Manif d’art 8 will occupy the four temporary exhibition galleries of the Pavillon Pierre Lassonde of the MNBAQ, an architectural jewel of international calibre, making for a spectacular Biennial! This exhibition will feature over 15 artists, including BGL, Annette Messager, Carlos Amorales and Christian Boltanski.

Co-presenters as loyal as ever

In addition to the central exhibition at MNBAQ, 13 co-presenters will exhibit works chosen by the artistic committee: Avatar, La Bande Vidéo, La Chambre Blanche, Engramme, the Galerie des arts visuels, the Grand Théâtre de Québec, Le Lieu, Matéria, the Maison Hamel-Bruneau, L’Œil de Poisson, Théâtre Périscope, Regart and VU. The public will thus be able to discover the work of such artists as Dan Brault, Parastou Forouhar and Sarah Anne Johnson.

An expanded public art program

The only winter biennial in North America, Manif d’art 8 is proud to present more than 10 works of public art—double the number of the previous edition. These projects will be undertaken by artists who are familiar with Quebec winters, as well as those experiencing it for the first time. Jocelyn Robert, Jean-Charles Massera, Élodie Pong, Yeondoo Jung, among many others, will be storming the streets of Quebec City! The majority of these works will be created specially for the occasion.

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Special collaborators and satellite organizations

Once again, Manif d’art has been able to count on the special collaboration of Quebec cultural organizations, as well as three non-profit business and economic development organizations from Quebec City, in organizing these exhibitions and activities based on the theme of joy.

And children won’t be left out either, thanks to a program called La P’tite Manif, featuring activities and exhibitions designed for children and young families.

(From press information)
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