Associate member Philomène Longpré in Montreal
Montreal artist Philomène Longpré, who was invited to teach Introduction to Art and technology at the School of Art Institute of Chicago where she received her MFA, has returned to Montreal for two high-profile shows, one which just ended at the Parisian Laundry and a new one that recently opened at the Galerie de l’UQAM at Université du Québec. Philomène, an associate member of The Art Collective, has followed the project’s work since its founding in mid-2004.
For information about her UQAM show, which continues until March 31, 2007:
http://www.galerie.uqam.ca/#basculer
Philomène’s work involves the creation of life-like individuals who reside in a dark space, through a projection system that allows them to come to life and interact with each visitor to the space. The reaction of the individual character varies with the movements of the viewer, using an interactive system of sensors that lead to different reactions by the onscreen person, depending on the movements each viewer makes in the dark space, which uncannily seems to be inhabited by at least the spirit of the projected individual character, which is played in each case by Philomène.
When the visitor enters the space where the character waits, it is usually peaceful as the character waits, moving slightly, watching. It becomes more animated as the visitor moves into the space and has the distinct impression that there is an uncanny relationship with the character, which takes on a life in the viewer’s imagination that goes far beyond being merely a projection.
You can read more about Philomène and her fascinating work at:
http://www.philox.net/en/home
To read more about Formica, the disturbing character who was living in the cavern below Parisian Laundry this winter, click here:
http://www.hour.ca/visualarts/visualarts.aspx?iIDArticle=11424
http://www.molior.ca/communiques/comm_paris_formica_2007-01-05_eng.pdf
The Parisian Laundry site has information about Philomène’s show as well as about many other excellent shows that have been there.
http://www.parisianlaundry.com/exhibition_archives/philomene-longpre
To read about an earlier project by Philomène, called Octopus, click on the page below. You can also watch a short video of Octopus, including an other-worldly soundscape, by clicking the second link below:
http://www.molior.ca/video.php?projet=11&vid=octo1.mov&width=240&height=190
http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2004/010804/philomene_longpre.html
Here is how Philomène’s career is described on her website:
Philomène Longpré received an MFA degree in Art and Technology Studies from the School of Art Institute of Chicago. Her graduate studies were funded through two merit-based awards: the Art Institute’s Trustee Scholarship as well as the FQRSC Quebec grant for research in Society and Culture. She also completed a BFA degree specializing in Electronic Art at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. During the course of her undergraduate studies, she took part in a one-year student exchange program at the University of New Mexico and also she participated in a six-month granted art project in South Asia.
Her interactive video systems have been shown in international electronic art festivals such as BUDi05 Busan (2005), FILE Sao Paulo (2004), Digifest Toronto (2004), Nexus Bangkok (2004), FIFCA Moncton (2005), Promo4.3 Montreal (2004) and has exhibited in several contemporary art galleries in Canada and the United States. Ms. Longpré also has the distinction of being the recipient of the Hexagram's Prize of Excellence of New Media (2003), the Judith Hamel New Media Award (2005), the Pinsky Medal (2004), the Studio Arts Concordia (2004), the New Millennium Scholarship (2001), the Stanley Mills Prize Purchase (2001), the Golden Key International Honour Society (2002), the CVM Culture Merite Award (1999).
Here is how Galerie de l’UQAM describes Philomène’s career:
Philomène Longpré détient un baccalauréat en arts visuels de l’Université Concordia et une maîtrise en art et technologie de la School of Art Institute de Chicago. Son travail juxtapose des écrans vidéo robotiques, des personnages et des sons abstraits, pour générer de nouvelles communications entre les visiteurs et leur environnement. Depuis 1999, elle a réalisé plusieurs « œuvres-systèmes » fonctionnant principalement via le langage gestuel et émotionnel. Ses projets ont notamment été présentés à la Parisian Laundry (Montréal, 2007), à Oboro (Montréal, 2004) et à la Société des arts technologiques (Montréal, 2003), ainsi que dans de nombreux festivals internationaux d’art électronique dont Digifest (Toronto, 2004), FILE (Sao Paulo, 2004) et Nexus (Bangkok, 2004). L’institut de recherche Hexagram lui décernait en 2003 son prix Excellence. Elle a participé à un programme d'échange d’un an à l'Université du Nouveau-Mexique ainsi qu’à un projet de résidences en Asie du Sud.
Philomène’s show at UQAM is at Pavillon Judith Jasmin, Room J-R120
1400 Berri St., at the corner of Ste. Catherine St. E., in Montreal. Métro Berri UQAM
It’s open from Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Free admission. Information: (514) 987-8421.
At the UQAM show, you can also see work by Montreal artist Frédéric Lavoie, who played a key role in helping The Art Collective present its one-week interactive show at UQAM’s CEDx Gallery in May 2006.
To read an article by Robert Winters, co-ordinator of The Art Collective, about a Parisian Laundry show by Concordia University master’s students in 2005, click here:
http://ctr.concordia.ca/2004-05/may_05/26/
Robert Winters
co-ordinator of The Art Collective