Manif d'art 9: Québec City Biennial Emphasizes Indigenous Art and Community Amid Extreme Cold
From February 16 to April 21, 2019, Québec City hosted the ninth iteration of the Québec City Biennial, known as Manif d'art 9. The event, curated by Jonathan Watkins and themed 'Small Between the Stars, Large Against the Sky,' drew inspiration from Leonard Cohen. It explored the relationship between nature and urban environments, showcasing approximately 100 artists, with a focus on indigenous talents such as Britta Marakatt-Labba and Meryl McMaster. A significant venue was the Huron Wendat museum. Claude Bélanger, the biennial's founder, played a crucial role in revitalizing the local art scene. Additionally, twelve emerging Canadian curators contributed to a special section, and the Musée national des beaux arts du Québec featured a dedicated pavilion, despite the opening occurring during snowstorms.
Key facts
- Manif d'art 9 ran from February 16 to April 21, 2019
- Chief curator was Jonathan Watkins, director of Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, England
- Theme was interaction of nature and city, titled 'Small Between the Stars, Large Against the Sky' from a Leonard Cohen song
- Featured about 100 artists with strong indigenous focus, including Britta Marakatt-Labba, Manasie Akpaliapik, and Shuvinai Ashoona
- Huron Wendat museum, 15km outside Québec City, was a key venue run by the tribe
- Claude Bélanger founded the biennial in 2000 and transformed the city's art scene through Méduse arts center
- Musée national des beaux arts du Québec gave the biennial a whole pavilion, breaking its rule of only exhibiting Québecois artists
- Twelve young Canadian curators selected about 40 Québecois artists for a show within the show
Entities
Artists
- Jonathan Watkins
- Leonard Cohen
- Claude Bélanger
- Britta Marakatt-Labba
- Manasie Akpaliapik
- Shuvinai Ashoona
- Marianne Nicolson
- Meryl McMaster
- Hannah Claus
- Sonia Robertson
- Guy Sioui Durand
- Nadia Myre
- Jean-Paul Riopelle
- Oliver Beer
- Haroon Mirza
- George Shaw
- Thomas Bewick
- Beat Streuli
- Christiane Baumgartner
- Lutz & Guggisberg
- Polly Apfelbaum
- Shimabuku
Institutions
- Manif d'art
- Québec City Biennial
- Ikon Gallery
- Musée national des beaux arts du Québec
- Méduse
- Regart
- Huron Wendat museum
- Le Lieu
- Pompidou Center
- Villa Bagatelle
- Frieze LA
- artcritical
Locations
- Québec City
- Canada
- Birmingham
- England
- Sydney
- Shanghai
- Venice
- Lévis
- Okinawa
- Japan
- Sweden
- Nunavut
- Leipzig
- Switzerland
- Montreal
- Toronto
- St Lawrence river
- South Pole
- Antarctic