Les temps
inachevés
This exhibition brings together, for the first time, major works by Patrick Bernatchez from two cycles that span years of conceptualization, creation, production and presentation: Chrysalides (2006–2013) and Lost in Time (2009–2015). It thus provides an opportunity to examine the scope of an interdisciplinary, polymorphous practice that embraces film, sound, sculpture and photography, in addition to painting and drawing.
The title of the exhibition refers specifically to the evolutive nature of Bernatchez’s practice. Circles, spirals, rotations, revolutions and repetitions are omnipresent in his work. From the circularity of the passage of time to the rotating and revolving of vinyl records, musical scores, camera movements and narrative arcs, these geometric figures and actions function on visual, metaphorical, allegorical and structural levels. Both cycles of works were developed over several years and neither has a clearly defined ending, since the artist has left openings that allow him to take them a step further at any time. Each exhibition is conceived as an occasion to reflect on these constantly evolving cycles, as much in terms of newly added productions as in relation to the ways in which earlier works are presented. The artist does not view an exhibition as the conclusion or completion of the creative process but as an intermediary step, an initial presentation that allows the works in question to evolve.
The curators are Lesley Johnstone, Head of Exhibitions and Education at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and Kevin Muhlen, Artistic Director at Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain.
Patrick Bernatchez: Les Temps inachevés is a co-production of the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, in partnership with Argos – Centre for Art and Media, Brussels, and The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto.
