Please Speak to the Material
An exhibition as part of the 24th edition of Art Matters, Concordia University's undergraduate visual arts festival.
Vernissage: Friday, March 1st, 2024. 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Facilitator:
Renée Mathews
Artists:
Justine Béliveau: Lint, Flour, Thread, and a Domestic Sparrow
Jacob Lepp: Robbing Peter To Pay Paul
Hannah Louisy: Ocean simulation
Anna Noel: I ask the layers what they want
April Steffek-Vogel: Memory Thread
Antoine Vogler: Cruising Ground
"Please Speak to the Material is a formal invitation to deepen the dialogue between ourselves and the material world. Delve into an exploration of how material and environment can facilitate connection and relationship by intertwining with concepts of play and process. Memory and relationship imbue objects with value and importance, making a sense of connection tangible. This emphasis on building relational bonds with materials during the creative process echoes into each of our lives, where similar care and attention can deepen our interpersonal relationships.
The artists' interactions with materials underscore a non-hierarchical view of our world where every element, including industrial byproducts, is engaged with respect and seen as a revered partner in creation. The works challenge viewers to perceive objects and their components not just as inanimate things but as active participants in shared spaces, deserving of respect and consideration. The exhibition poses poignant questions: What happens when materials, and not just the finished artworks, are treated with reverence? How can this mode of interaction transform our understanding of relationships and the process of nurturing them?
Continuing Pierre-François Ouellette Art Contemporain's institutional record of spotlighting queer histories and cultures, this exhibition invites viewers to engage in a multisensory experience where materiality, memory, and identity converge, encouraging a deeper understanding of our collective and individual connections to the world around us." - Renée Mathews