Some Distinguished Visitors
Expected at the MAC in the New Year

Montréal, January 7, 2015 — With the new year barely under way, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is already busy getting the exhibition galleries ready to receive the works of French artist Sophie Calle, one of the most important artists of her generation, British artist Simon Starling, winner of the 2005 Turner Prize, and Allan Sekula and Noël Burch, makers of the essay film The Forgotten Space, which won the Special Orizzonti Jury Prize at the 2010 Venice Film Festival. In addition, La Biennale de Montréal 2014 will be extended, in part, at the Musée d’art contemporain until Sunday, February 8.

Sophie Calle: For the Last and First Time

From February 5 to May 10, 2015

This exhibition comprises two recent projects by Sophie Calle: The Last Image, 2010, a series of photographs accompanied by texts, and Voir la mer, 2011, a series of digital films that take an incisive look at the particular reality of the mental images of blind people and at the discovery of beauty and the sublime. Calle, a renowned conceptual artist, found an address book one day on a Paris street. She then decided to contact all those listed in it in order to build a portrait of the book’s owner. The results of these encounters were published in serial form in the French daily Libération. For decades, Calle has explored the boundaries between public and private, life and art.

Simon Starling: Metamorphology

From February 5 to May 10, 2015

Celebrated British artist Simon Starling presents some fifteen pieces in this exhibition-sculptures, photographs, installations and films-produced since 2002. This significant body of works points up the main concerns explored by Starling: the importance of research and metamorphosis as a creative process, an interest in the history of art and a strong presence of material substance. The tour of Simon Starling: Metamorphology is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The exhibition at the MAC will also include Pictures for an Exhibition, a project by Starling organized by the Arts Club of Chicago.

The Forgotten Space

From January 21 to March 15, 2015

The Forgotten Space is the sea, that immense space through which nearly ninety percent of the world’s cargo now passes: “100,000 invisible ships. One and a half million invisible sailors binding the world together through trade.” The container, invented in the 1950s, has become the most important means of maritime transportation in the decades since then. This essay film follows the ships’ movements from port to port-Rotterdam, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Guangdong province, Bilbao and beyond.

Partial extension of La Biennale de Montréal 2014 at the MAC

Those who haven’t had a chance to visit the 2014 edition of La Biennale de Montréal will be happy to know that, after the Holidays, the presentation of L’avenir (looking forward) will be extended, at least in part, at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. From January 6 to February 8, 2015, visitors will be able to take this last opportunity to admire artists’ works on display in the MAC’s southern galleries. These artists are: Abbas Akhavan, Nicolas Baier, Charles Gaines, Ryan Gander, Isabelle Hayeur, Thomas Hirschhorn, Simone Jones and Lance Winn, Emmanuelle Léonard, Li Ran, Basim Magdy, John Massey, Jacqueline Hoang Nguyen, Susan Norrie, Althea Thauberger, Suzanne Treister, Susan Turcot, Anton Vidokle and Pelin Tan, and Hajra Waheed. On view in La Rotonde is the piece by Étienne Tremblay-Tardif. As well, Nicolas Baier’s sculpture Eternity, which won the people’s choice award, the Prix Coup de cœur Loto-Québec, last December 18, will still be on exhibit in the galleries.

Workshop/tour combos in connection with La Biennale

Throughout this period, the MAC’s education team will continue its tours and art workshops in connection with La Biennale. The workshop Pointing the Way, inspired by Étienne Tremblay-Tardif’s installation titled Matrice signalétique pour la réfection de l’échangeur Turcot, 2009-2020, will be offered from January 9 to February 8. Participants will create a composition made out of images of the city, urban-planning schemes and various highly expressive and colourful gestures. To join in one of these activities, reservations are required. Call 514 847-6266.

BNLMTL 2014 is presented by La Biennale de Montréal and co-produced with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.

Opening hours

To make it easier to visit the MAC at the end of the day and on weekends, the museum’s opening hours have been extended. The Musée d’art contemporain is now accessible on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Acknowledgments

The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is a provincially owned corporation funded by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec. It receives additional funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts. The museum gratefully acknowledges their support and that of Collection Loto-Québec, the MAC’s principal partner. The MAC also thanks its media partner, La Presse +.