Caroline Hayer’s Adoland, a look at adolescence, and Jean-François LeBlanc’s Thingyan, the Burmese New Year Water Festival, are currently on display. Our Canadian correspondent, who was recently invited to join the Agence Stock Photo, presents the latest series from these two Montreal-based photographers.
Founded in 1987 by three photographers in search of information and independence, Stock is a collective for politically committed people who want to give their own account of the world. For the past 25 years, it has been a benchmark in Quebec photography, both for its humanist vision and for its desire to bring together professionals. It currently has five active members who alternate between personal and group projects. With their focus on photojournalism, they see documentary and personal work as complementary to commissions and press assignments. Its members collaborate with the local and international press, and their work has been the subject of several exhibitions in Quebec and abroad in Europe at the Rencontres d’Arles and FNAC galleries.
Caroline Hayeur was the first woman to join the collective. Her work explores human emotions and transformation. Curious, she likes to experiment with installations and different media, as in her latest project, Adoland, which combines video with music produced by her duo, the Ying Yang Ladies. Created between 2011 and 2014, Adoland is an “in camera” exploration of identity, transition and memories. Taking the form of a colorful, chronological timeline from 11 to 57 years, the exhibition allows viewers to enter these mausoleums revealing secrets and wounds. For some, these places remain untouched. For others, only a few items of sentimental value remain. Before leaving, the photographer invites the public to place a photograph from their adolescence among a jumble of images, where we can see photographs from the artist’s own life.
On another note, Jean-François LeBlanc, co-founder of Agence Stock Photo, invites us to Burma. Spring 2012: the country has just opened its borders, the elections are on the horizon, and LeBlanc seizes the moment to cover political events. At the same time, the Burmese are celebrating the Buddhist New Year with five days of purification, and celebrating peace by spraying water everywhere, turning the streets into wading pools. People of all ages participate, with the oldest receiving offerings and flowers from the young. Happiness and celebrations are magnified this year by a spirit of liberty following the victory of Aung San Suu Kyi. From Mandalay to Yangon, from Bagan to Inle Lake, the waterlogged photographer travels from city to city capturing this magical festival. His pictures are bright and full of hope for the country’s future.
EXHIBITIONS
Adoland, Caroline Hayeur
March 15th to April 27th, 2014
Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges 5
290, ch. de la Côte-des-Neiges
Montréal, Canada
Thingyan, la grande fête de l’eau birmane
Jean-François LeBlanc
March 19th to April 27th, 2014
La Tohu
2345 rue Jarry Est, Montréal
http://www.carolinehayeur.com
http://www.jfleblancphoto.com
http://www.agencestockphoto.com
