(Montreal) Gender identity concerns everyone: this is what the new exhibition aims to demonstrate One of a kind, presented on Wednesday at the Musée de la civilization in Quebec. The exhibition, which mixes works of art, videos and historical objects, illustrates the plurality of concepts surrounding the notion of gender, which goes far beyond the masculine-feminine binary.
“The approach we have chosen to take is to say that we are going to support people,” asserts Caroline Lantagne, in charge of exhibition projects at the Museum. She points out that the exhibition offers a “gradual journey” to promote learning for all visitors, regardless of their level of knowledge about gender diversity.
“We said to ourselves that we were really going to show what we are talking about when we talk about gender, by placing it in a broader perspective, which is that of identities, so that everyone feels challenged”, adds Mme Lantagne, saying that “everyone has a gender”.
For Marie-Philippe Phillie-Drouin, who is in the general management of the organization Divergenres, the exhibition “represents an incredible opportunity to reach a general public. General public, which is more and more interested in gender issues, in trans realities”. Marie-Philippe is also part of the scientific committee that was consulted to develop the exhibition.
PHOTO MARIE-JOSÉE MARCOTTE, PROVIDED BY THE MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION
The new exhibition One of a kind wants to demonstrate that gender identity concerns everyone.
“There is a great lack of knowledge of gender issues, quite simply because it is not part of the curriculum of our education system, explains Marie-Philippe, who is a non-binary trans person who uses the pronoun iel. For me, it is a springboard for educating a population not only in the Capitale-Nationale, but also everywhere in Quebec, because Quebec is a tourist city, so people travel there”.
The exhibition is divided into several distinct sections. The first dwells on the basic notions of gender, explaining what the concept of binarity, or sex assigned at birth, is. The diversity that exists in nature with regard to notions of gender is then discussed. For example, in seahorses, it is the males who carry the eggs in a ventral pouch until they hatch.
“In our journey, at each stage, we present testimonials. In this case, people who are both intersex people, but also specialists,” adds Caroline Lantagne.
The third part of the exhibition approaches the notions of gender from an anthropological point of view, notably by presenting how, in certain cultures, men carry out tasks that we consider to be traditionally feminine.
The notion of a “third gender” in some communities is also detailed, as is two-spirit among Indigenous peoples. A work by Cree artist Kent Monkman, who frequently includes a non-binary character within his paintings, is also displayed.
One of a kind presents a multitude of objects, such as dresses for boys dating from the beginning of the 20th century, in the portion of the exhibition focusing on hetero cisnormativity. That is to say, which considers the fact that being heterosexual and cisgender is “the norm” and that anyone who does not conform to these criteria is obliged to “come out of the closet”. Visitors will also be able to learn more about the various feminist social movements, queer and trans people and their history.
The exhibition ends by celebrating the resilience and creativity of trans and non-binary people, whether in literature, film, or the art of drag. A costume of the popular drag queen Rita Baga is also exposed. Two artistic installations where occasional performances will take place are also at the end of the visit.
“Trans people are human beings”
The exhibition One of a kind is part of the news, while anti-drag are held in both Canada and the United States.
“When there are worries or fears around the dragis that we misunderstand what is personality versus what is artistic performance in order to entertain an audience. [C’est de la] misunderstanding also of how art adapts according to the environment”, evokes Marie-Philippe Phillie-Drouin.
“What I would like people to remember is that trans people are human beings, and that we are much more complex than our transition journey, than our gender identity. We are members of their family, we are citizens, we are co-workers,” adds Marie-Philippe, emphasizing thatOne of a kind offers a nuanced look, showing that people belonging to sexual and gender diversity do not form a homogeneous group.
For Caroline Lantagne, the exhibition is in line with the museum’s desire to “place the human being at the heart of its concerns”.
One of a kind is presented until April 14, 2024.
This dispatch was produced with financial assistance from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.