Biennale de Montréal 2016: Le Grand Balcon
The 2016 Biennale de Montréal, named "Le Grand Balcon," is under the curation of Philippe Pirotte alongside Corey McCorkle, Aseman Sabet, Kitty Scott, and Sylvie Fortin, showcasing works from over 55 artists across 23 nations. Featured at the Musée d’art contemporain are Lucas Cranach the Elder's artwork, composite pieces by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Nicole Eisenman's depictions of armed figures, and David Gheron Tretiakoff's illustrations of self-immolators from the Arab Spring. Brian Jungen addresses the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada. At the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Kerry James Marshall presents "Untitled (Rythm Mastr)" with a Black superhero. Judith Hopf's installation at Galerie de l'UQÀM includes "Lily's Laptop" (2013), while Nathalie Melikian's "The Last Man on Earth" (2016) is displayed at Dazibao. Corey McCorkle's "Monument" (2013) features a video of a blind horse, and the biennial seeks to challenge quantification.
Key facts
- Biennale de Montréal 2016 titled 'Le Grand Balcon' after Jean Genet's play
- Curated by Philippe Pirotte with Corey McCorkle, Aseman Sabet, Kitty Scott, Sylvie Fortin
- Over 55 artists and collectives from 23 countries
- Epicenter at Musée d’art contemporain (MAC)
- Lucas Cranach the Elder painting partially repainted shown at MAC
- Njideka Akunyili Crosby's works explore 'third spaces'
- Nicole Eisenman's 'Shooter I & II' (2016) feature armed figures
- David Gheron Tretiakoff's 'Immolation I to IV' depict Arab Spring self-immolators
- Film 'A God Passing' shows transport of Ramses statue in Cairo (2007)
- Brian Jungen's drawings critique Canada-Indigenous relations
- Kerry James Marshall's 'Untitled (Rythm Mastr)' lightbox installation at Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Judith Hopf's installation at Galerie de l'UQÀM includes 'Lily's Laptop' (2013)
- Nathalie Melikian's 'The Last Man on Earth' (2016) at Dazibao
- Knut Åsdam's 'Tripoli' (2010) set in Oscar Niemeyer boomerang-shaped building in Lebanon
- Knut Åsdam's 'Egress' (2013) set in Oslo suburb gas station
- Corey McCorkle's 'Monument' (2013) at Mies van der Rohe gas station on Île-des-Sœurs, featuring blind horse Zachary
- Gas station built 1967-1968, now intergenerational community center
Entities
Artists
- Jean Genet
- Lucas Cranach the Elder
- Njideka Akunyili Crosby
- Nicole Eisenman
- David Gheron Tretiakoff
- Brian Jungen
- Kerry James Marshall
- Judith Hopf
- Nathalie Melikian
- Knut Åsdam
- Corey McCorkle
- Oscar Niemeyer
- Mies van der Rohe
Institutions
- Biennale de Montréal
- Musée d’art contemporain (MAC)
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Galerie de l'UQÀM
- Dazibao
- Optica
Locations
- Montréal
- Canada
- Nigeria
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Lebanon
- Tripoli
- Oslo
- Norway
- Île-des-Sœurs
Sources
- artpress —