Human and animal figures emerge from the photographic works of Sylvie Chartrand. At first glance, we perceive specimens of biodiversity. But on closer inspection, they are the work of our imagination, which delights in misunderstanding them.

Artist biography

Sylvie Chartrand is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Montréal. She holds a PhD in art studies and practices from UQÀM (2018) and a Master’s degree from Studio national des arts contemporains Le Fresnoy (2002).

Alongside her training in visual arts and design, she was trained in body acting at Omnibus: Le corps du théâtre, where she has been performing and teaching since 2004.

As a visual artist and creator-interpreter, she experiments with procedures that allow her to capture the human shadow in the manner of an imprint. Through this body double that lends itself to all manner of metamorphoses, Sylvie Chartrand creates striking figures that draw their forms from the diversity of living things. Her work has been shown in international exhibitions including Le Rêve des formes at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2017), Temps d’images at Usine C in Montreal (2008) and Territoires de l’image at the Musée des beaux-arts in Tourcoing (2007), as well as at major events including Ars Electronica Linz (2018), Festival International du Mime de Montréal (2008), Rencontres VIA de Mons (2007), Festival mondial des théâtres de marionnettes de Charleville-Mézières (2006) and Monaco Dance Forum de Monte-Carlo (2002). He was awarded the Prix du Public at the 8th Foire d’art contemporain de Saint-Lambert in 2017.

Directions