Animation | duration: 2 mins | HD (16:9) | colour | h.264
'PART OF '"ON EST TOUS UN GROUPE D'AMIS ICI" (WE ARE ALL FRIENDS HERE)', Montreal 2015
CECI N'EST PAS UN SPECTACLE is a knitted animation inspired by downtown Montreal, whilst hinting at the absurdity of ‘representation’ in arts and the critical limits of public realm projection. The film was originally projected onto the facade of the Centre de Design, Montreal, as part of ESPACE COMMUN. CECI N'EST PAS UN SPECTACLE is one of a series of works , collectively entitled - “On est tous un groupe d’amis ici” (We are all friends here) - created with MTL artist Marilene Gaudet, that also include knitted textile installations, and an interactive sound installation in a Bell telephone box.
CECI N'EST PAS UN SPECTACLE uses knitted 'pixel art' to illustrate a series of ideas and experiences collected through interviews and visual research with people in downtown Montreal. Motifs, symbols and declarations appear in glorious lo-res knitted form - each one created, translated and appropriated from people living, working or just passing through the Quartier des Spectacles. The QdS is an area of rapid development - where traditional small businesses struggle and first nations community centres must survive alongside new condos, and the sex industry rubs shoulders with the arts. The work draws on converstaions with a diverse community including tourists, police, protestors, strippers, the homeless, small business owners, indigenous peoples, students, arts programmers, bikers, street artists and skaters. The work does not attempt to tell the story of these complex histories and relationships, but simply to distill them to an abstracted visual form, suggesting overlapping concerns or conflicting perspectives. This colourful animation references traditional fairisle design as well the iconography and digital arts culture of downtown Montreal.
Produced by National Film Board of Canada, Quartier des Spectacles, Mutek and FACT Liverpool
Additional pixel art design by Dan Farrimond (UK) and Dimitri Panos
"Comment cohabiter?"
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"how to live together?"
LINKS
Video Documentation - Centre de Design, Oct 2015
Photo Documentation - Centre de Design, Oct 2015
Article - 'Le Lac Meech' - La Presse, Oct 2015
Article - 'La Société du Spectacle' - ONF blog, Oct 2015
Article - 'Espace Commun' - ONF blog, Oct 2015
Selected Screenings
15th May 2023 - 'If You Know You Know*', Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, Los Angeles, US
25th Feb 2023 - ANTI-GENTRIFICATION FESTIVAL, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, CA
4th Dec 2021 - LIGHT KNIT, Framework Knitters Museum, Nottingham, UK
*** Part of the British Council / Crafts Council BEST OF REAL TO REEL FILM FEST - touring from March 2019 ***
July 2019 - THE SCREENING ROOM – online, NL
March 1st 2019 - BEST OF REAL TO REEL PREVIEW – Saatch Gallery, London, UK
February 23rd – 25th 2018 - ONE MINUTE NORTH WALES – Balaclafa Carn, Caernarfon, Wales
May 4th 2017 – Crafts Council Real to Reel Film Festival, London, UK
April 28th-29th 2017 – Le Mup Film Festival, Montreal, Canada
November 2015 – Human Futures, FACT, Liverpool, UK
October 2015 – Espace Commun, Montreal, Canada