For more than fifteen years, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal has had the annual pleasure of presenting Arrimage, an exhibition showcasing the creations of several hundred elementary and secondary schoolchildren on the island of Montréal. For visitors, it is a chance to see the product of a creative process that evolves throughout the school year. First of all, on visits to the Montréal Science Centre and the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the students explore a theme with both scientific and artistic content. Then, under the guidance of their art teachers, they try out different materials and techniques, and use them to give visual expression to their thoughts on the chosen theme.
This year, the project revolves around the senses. Exploring the scientific aspect first, the participants examined the following questions: How many senses do we have? How many tastes are we able to perceive? Are the hands the only way we use the sense of touch? Do the senses work together as a team? Then, on a visit to the Musée, they observed two recent series by French artist Sophie Calle dealing with the sense of sight. Lastly, equipped with all their senses, they analysed other works on view at the museum. For indeed, although we operate in the sphere of the visual arts, the other senses are regularly called upon, both to create works and to receive them.
From April 11 to 26, 2015, visitors can see the results of this creative endeavour in an exhibition where they just might also be able to taste, smell, hear and touch… Who knows?
Arrimage is a project organized under the program A Montréal School for All instituted by Québec’s Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport in collaboration with the Montréal Science Centre.
