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Contemporary art has a new address in Gatineau. At 75 Principale Street, La Chèvre Rose is hosting an inaugural group exhibition bringing together six artists.
Photos credit : Radio-Canada / Salah Tebessi
Published February 13 at 5:39 a.m. ET
A new contemporary art gallery, La Chèvre Rose, is opening its doors in Gatineau. Hosting an inaugural group exhibition featuring six artists, this space located at 75 Principale Street aims to stand out by showcasing a body of work that brings together art and technology.
“It’s a bit of a crazy idea,” admits one of La Chèvre Rose’s two co-founders, Francis Hétu. A technology entrepreneur for about twenty years, he wanted to offer the public something a little different.
Co-founder of the art gallery located in the Aylmer sector, Étienne Gélinas is both an artist and an entrepreneur. He is pleased to provide a space dedicated to artists who work with technology or whose artistic focus revolves around it, he explains.
In his case, Étienne Gélinas states that he partly relies on computer-based production, using software such as Photoshop and digital drawing tools, while also maintaining a more traditional approach to painting when it comes to the printing and collage stages.
“There are also a great many codes in my work that relate to science, technology, and architectural design,” adds Étienne Gélinas.
In his creative process, he can rely on the technology company Ridgebase, led by Francis Hétu. The organization brings together developers, programmers, and designers.
“They are people I can interact with […] which allows me to reach another level in my production and in my exploration of technology,” the artist explains.
He also says he is in favor of using artificial intelligence, a tool that will allow us to take our practices much further, he believes.
While technology is sometimes present in the creation of the exhibited works—whether through the use of a computer or a 3D printer—it can also simply serve as a source of inspiration. This is the case for André Lemire, who reflects on the use of technology in his drawings that suggest scenarios for saving the planet.
Étienne Gélinas is among the artists featured in the inaugural exhibition. Joining him are regional artists (Mathieu Cardin, André Lemire, Hugo Gaudet-Dion) as well as a Mexican artist based in Houston, adds the artist and co-founder of La Chèvre Rose, referring to Gretchen Velarde.
Located not far from the Constance-Provost building, which will house the Lucy-Faris Library, the space will soon unveil an immersive exhibition, notes Francis Hétu. Featuring a large immersive cube in the middle of the gallery, it will involve another regional creator, Gatineau-based multidisciplinary artist Éric Lord.
With information from Marie-Eve Dumulong.
