The Trois-Rivières Biennale | Where hearsay is good

There are three weeks left to see what the National Contemporary Sculpture Biennial has brought to Trois-Rivières this year. Not sure if it’s for you? Here are five important things to know about the event.

We are not in the wood carving sculpture.

“We sometimes have pure and hard sculpture, in the Rodin sense, but [ici] “We are really in a three-dimensional experience,” says the general and artistic director of the Biennale, Audrey Labrie, who speaks more about the arts of space. Which creates an image.

And which is entirely in line with the experience that the visitor will have who agrees to let themselves be carried away by this thoughtful, directed and very diverse proposal.

For example, the Collectif Bonneau-Knight, from Kingsey Falls, has created walks to do, really, in synergy with a walker who has recorded his or her wandering somewhere in the world: in Newfoundland, Lisbon, Brazil or Sainte-Adèle. The visitor can therefore leave the gallery and go for a walk, in the streets of Trois-Rivières, with his or her friend on his or her shoulder.

It’s called participatory art and it’s great for people who visit alone, who want to take their time.

While you’re outside, we strongly recommend walking to Bonaventure Street where you’ll find a piece by Quebec artist Marc-Antoine K. Phaneuf.

Works were created for the Biennale

This year, the Biennale brings together 14 artists, including 5 who come from outside Quebec. In total, 13 works are presented and 10 were created specifically for the event.

There was no call for proposals; it was a steering committee that invited the artists once the theme was chosen.

This year, the Biennale is called Yes, say! It evokes a lot of these “hearsays”, of course, these things that we hear and that often come across as rumors. The way it is written, it also comes across as speaking out. And it also represents the different degrees of reading of a work, explains the artistic coordinator, Alexandre Poulin.

The invited artists therefore had a wide range to explore – and they worked in close collaboration with the management of the Biennale, for the development of their concept.

It is accessible to all

This is perhaps the most important thing to know about this event: it feels good. Very good, in fact. It is obvious that all the members of this team are committed to welcoming visitors, wherever they are.

“Here, we can boast of being a truly open biennial that is very approachable,” illustrates Alexandre Poulin. “As much as we have things that can please those who are used to large museums, large institutions, and artist centers, as much as [on en a qui plairont] to newbies who are in the family, who want to share and experience an unusual moment.

You should plan a day in Trois-Rivières

The Biennale has existed since 2001 and is now in its 11th year.^e presentation.

The number of visitors increases by 20% per year, according to management. There were 30,000 people in 2022, mostly tourists who pass through or come for the Biennale. Or who return, the event having over time developed its network of regulars, of loyalists. They know that it takes time.

This year, there are six exhibition locations, including one in Victoriaville. “We’re changing the traditional exhibition location,” says general director Audrey Labrie. “We’re not always in museums or galleries.”

The largest space is the Parc Art Gallery, which showcases six artists. If you only visit one place, make it this one. It’s a 300-year-old mansion, one of the oldest buildings in the city.

“For artists, it’s extremely motivating to be in a heritage site because there are a lot of constraints,” says Alexandre Poulin. “Often, a lot of creativity emerges from constraints. It’s like in finance, agriculture and all sorts of environments. As soon as there’s bad luck, we see creativity emerge.”

It’s fabulous

There is a lot of beauty and sensitivity in these works and there are wonderful encounters to be had with local artists to discover — like this Collectif Bonneau-Knight.

It’s also a time to meet well-known names in contemporary art, such as Nico Williams. Alexandre Poulin describes him as “the enfant terrible of Quebec contemporary art” and is pleased to be able to present his work this summer in Trois-Rivières.

The artist, a member of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, brings the beading technique up to date. Here he depicts a pawn shop where a member of his family was said to have been carrying video cassettes, according to hearsay…

Visit the Trois-Rivières Biennale website