Research residency

Maude P. Hénaire is an art historian, researcher and author interested in art practices employing strategies of infiltration, diversion, and immersion. The research residency in LA CHAMBRE BLANCHE’s documentation centre, from September 9th to October 27th 2013, was an occasion to conduct a detailed work tackling the idea of collective memory, and its selective approach. From political and social international history, through the history of opposition movements, to the begetting of an individual history by the means of social media, Hénaire plunges into the hidden face of the issue – the fear of oblivion, that crystallizes into the excessive accumulation of archives and data bases. These « authority symbols » determine, not only the contents of collective memory, but also the « rejects » of history that are vetoed or censured. It is within this problematic that certain artistic actions from involved Russian groups work (Voïna, Pussy Riot). For her research residency, Maude P. Hénaire tended towards exploring the direct actions and the furtive interventions that, by their contextual, political, social, and aesthetic approach, generate a disturbing awakening, while being reduced to silence by the « establishment ». Also, the author raises the question of the intervention role of the artist, or even his/her choice of anonymity in order to avoid the institutional crush. How does collectivity react to these practices that resist every-day life alienation ? In order to seize public space, should one act collectively ? Maude P. Hénaire lives and works in Montreal. She detains a bachelor degree in History of art from UQAM. Her written work was published in Complot 9 : Gravité/Graviter. She was the curator of the exhibition Peinture extrême – Cadrer le tout at Trois Points gallery (MTL) in summer 2013. Currently, she is assistant director at Trois Points gallery in Montreal.