From the outset, BGL’s work has been imbued with a love for the pictorial. While the trio frequently employs mischievous nods to painting and the archetypal portrayal of the painter and his studio, they have always refrained from using this medium in its traditional form. These playful references to painting, which are woven into their work, attest to a genuine fascination with this medium, its historical depth, and material richness.
In 2021, the trio announced that they were ending their collaboration after 25 years of working together. This exhibition primarily showcases the final works created by BGL.
In Dernière Boucane Show, the collective introduces us to the fictional and folkloric character of the cyclo-painter, who rides his bicycle through the roads of Quebec, from Kamouraska to Montreal, with the ambition to immortalize the panoramas along the St. Lawrence River. He creates a series of urban landscapes paintings, crafted from gathered tree branches and then meticulously enhanced with color. His works highlight the contrast between the fragile, organic nature of the branches and the industrial rigidity of our urban landscapes, built on ancient forests. With the natural imperfection of the branches, BGL offers a slightly off-kilter view of modernity. The deliberately awkward and asymmetrical perspective adds a touch of humor to these works.
Through this unique staging, imbued with poetry and humor, BGL subtly raises fundamental questions about the value of art and the status of the artist in a self-referential mise en abyme.
BGL (1996 – 2021), a trio comprising Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière, originated at Université Laval, where the three artists met. Since then, they’ve been making a name for themselves for their high-quality work. The collective was selected to represent Canada at the 2015 Venice Biennale.
