Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain is pleased to present Leila Zelli's first solo exhibition at the gallery entitled "Un chant peut traverser l'océan" ["A Chant Can Cross the Ocean"]
Since the waves of worldwide demonstrations for Iran, between solidarity marches and the sharing of video excerpts from the Iranian revolution of 2022 on social networks, the series "Un chant peut traverser l'océan " [A Chant Can Cross the Ocean] (2022-2023) has developed with drawings of birds and prints of Iranian women in revolt.
Each stroke and stain attempts to follow the rhythm of the chant "Woman, life, freedom," making the artist meditate on women's struggles for freedom, the courage required for disobedience, the collective strength of a people in the uprising and the grandeur of sacrifice.
The artist shares with us these remarks:
"The series Un chant peut traverser l'océan (2022-2023) began with exploratory work in drawing and printmaking and with an artistic background that spans two worlds: a classical training in drawing learned as a child in Iran and a political practice of the image from a master's degree in visual and media arts at UQÀM.
It was at a time when I was closely watching the images and videos of the Iranian people's uprising on my phone screen and was committed to participating in the worldwide marches and rallies for the Iranian Revolution ''woman, life, freedom'' here in Montreal. At a time when hope was at the heart of our thoughts, when the dream of freedom was lifting us when youth was inspiring us, a collective flight was about to become a reality, fully alive.
Something pierced my heart, stung me, threw me to the ground, lifted me, and pushed me forward. I observed the emotion I was experiencing, meditated and fought as I drew, instantly, without sketching, between control and letting go, in a rush and singing epic songs to keep the rhythm.
Birds in flight and bird-women in revolt encouraged me to think about how to become a bird myself. So, I continued my quest for freedom in my own way. A process that has enabled me to go beyond my limits, to practice freedom and become more courageous.
I would like to thank the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Foundation for their support, the support and mentorship of Galerie Hugues Charbonneau and the generosity of Jad and Roula Shimaly, thanks to whom I created the entire series at the Belgo studio, where I was in the wonderful company of my friends Allie Gattor, Michaëlle Sergile, Carl-Philippe Simonise and Florence Viau, and Jean-Philippe Thibault as always." -LZ
BIO:
Born in Tehran (Iran), Leila Zelli lives and works in Montréal. She holds an MFA (2020) and a BFA (2016) in Visual and Media Arts from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). Zelli is interested in the relationship that we have with the ideas of “others” and “elsewhere” and, more specifically, within this geopolitical space often referred to by the questionable term “Middle East.” She creates in situ digital installations using existing images, videos and texts often found on the Internet. The resulting visual and sound experiences create an opportunity to reflect on the state of the world, the relationship with the Other and the actual effect of our actions on humanity.
Her work has been shown, among others, at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Collection Arts du Tout-Monde), at Pierre-François Ouellette art contemporain (2021), at Bradley Ertaskiran Gallery (2020), at the Conseil des arts de Montréal (2019-2020) and at Galerie de l’UQAM (2020, 2019, 2015).
Her works are part of Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal collection, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collection, the Musée Pointe-à-Callière, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec’s Prêt d’oeuvres d’art collection, the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul collection and the collection of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. She is the laureate of the 2023 Prix Lynne-Cohen and the 2021 laureate of the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Fellowship in Contemporary Art.
The gallery thanks SODEC for its support of this exhibition.
