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What do we say when we don't speak...
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In today’s fast paced society, where time passes through our lives through events of all kinds, we are constantly evolving among invisible social areas. This group spirit is not only the passive resultant of a gregarious instinct, it creates a collective imprint, a collective unconsciousness, a collective memory, whatever the name, it is like an accumulation of energies nourished by the feelings, desires, ideals or fears of all our humanity.
As an artist, art brings its share of human confrontations and my inspiration is born in an unconscious form that is defined by a sensory receptivity that absorbs this egregore. What if we were able to generate together this shared consciousness? How would we translate it into words? How would we look at the world as a whole? How to analyze it? How would we understand it?
It is from these notions that my greatest concern, or rather my artistic unconscious, gives me the impression of being stuck in the existence of another. It creates a tension of emotions and feelings, which do not belong to me, but that I can transpose on canvas, leaving the pictorial trace of the emergence of a group spirit.
My approach is intuitively intuitive, certainly, but later, it is unraveled in the narrative form, to disappear under strata and layers of color, spots and footprints. Nothing is completed so long as there is no finality
Bio
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Montreal-based artist Véronique Besançon was born in 1959 to a French father and Russian-Hungarian mother in Marrakesh. In 1965, her family moved to Paris where she pursued university studies in clinical psychology. Being human is already her first concern and challenges her in its complexity and essence. By focusing on the development of the person, she moved towards the field of pedagogy. She later moved to Montreal in 1997 for university where she developed an instant and profound crush with the city. She proceeded with a teaching career in educational technology at the Université de Montréal. From a young age, she explores art from improvisation methods in contemporary dance, theater, automatic writing, painting.
Self-taught artist, and since more than a decade, she explores the amalgam of pigments in a free gesture of pictorial abstraction. As colors and words draw her reflection, Véronique Besançon develops an artistic research that uses personal interiority to try to understand human complexity. She creates atmospheres that establish a dialogue between her characters. They reflect emotionally driven places and moments, flashes of stories, all of which bring out the human essence.
Véronique Besançon’s work has been showcased internationally at both private and public events. Her artistic career has been documented with books of her paintings and poems.
CV
Solo exhibitions
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2019 - "From one continent to another" - Galerie 1040, Montreal
2019 - "Open heart" - Gallery space, Saint Sauveur
2018-19 - “Freeze frame, when emotion is revealed…” - Parcours M, Montreal
2017 - "I am the migrant traveler" - Galerie Espace, Montreal
2017 - “Words are windows or walls…” - Galerie Josette Tilmant, St Sauveur
2016 - Maison Parent-Roback, Montreal
2015 - “Selfie of you” - Atrium Verses, Montreal
2015 - Beaubien Cinema, Montreal
2014 - "Conciliabule" - Carrefour Culturel, Rosemont Petite Patrie, Montreal
2013 - "Vanishing point of the meeting" - Galerie Fabienne Rhein, Montreal
2013 - Promenade Masson, Montreal
2012 - "Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer: Les indignés" - Galerie Espace Contemporain, Montreal
2012- “With recycled frames, unveiled paintings” - Belgo, Galerie d'Art Contemporain Le Verseau, Montreal
International exhibitions
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2019 - "20/20" , Galerie Nadar, Casablanca, Morocco
2019 - Humanitarian project for Syrian children - Vienna City hall, Austria
2019 - International Art Exhibition, 10th Sarria Biennale - Sarria, Spain
2018 - Artist residency Marrakesh - Mohamed Sekkat University Library, Casablanca, Morocco
2017 - Art Expo Beijing, China
2017 - 16 -15 - 14 -13 - 12 “Women in Art” - Ward Nasse Gallery, Soho, New-York, USA
2016 - 15 -14-13-12 - ArtExpo New-York, New York, USA
2016 - “Summer Solstice”, Ward-Nasse Gallery, New-York, USA
2016 - 15 - “The unexpected”, Ward-Nasse Gallery, New-York, USA
2014 - Show de Bola, Martha Watts Cultural Center, Piracicaba, Brazil
2014 - Show de Bola, Centro Cultural Justiça Federal, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2014 - Show de Bola, Biblioteca Prefeito Prestes Maia, Santo Amaro, Brazil
2017 - 12 - Ward Nasse Gallery, Soho, New-York, USA
Duo-Trio-Quartet exhibitions
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2019 - "10th edition Retrouvailles Expo Afrique-Amérique" - Rallye-Expos Vues d'Afrique ", Casa Italia, Montreal
2019 - Collective, HangArt Gallery, Montreal
2018 - “Marie and Véronique make an exhibition” Galerie Âme-Art, Montreal
2018 - “Rencontre au feminine”, Vues d'Afrique, Montreal
2014 - "Multidisciplinary group" - Galerie Gora, Montreal
2014 - "Le Rendez-vous" - Espace Gallery, Montreal
2014 - "Architecture and environment" - RCARPP, Esplanade Loft project, Montreal
2013 - "The Body in All Its States" - RCARPP, Esplanade Loft project, Montreal
2013 - "Zoom In, Zoom Out" - Galerie Espace Contemporain, Montreal
2013 - “From Origin to Atmosphere” - Galerie Espace, Montreal
2012 - “Let's occupy space! »Espace Gallery, Montreal
Group exhibitions
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2019 - Creators of Peace Biennial - Ecomusée du fier Monde, Montreal
2018 - “Tout en couleurs” - Espace Galerie - Saint Sauveur
2017 - “Color against pain” - Saint Lambert
2017– “The best time” - Mile End Gallery, Montreal
2017 - "Retrouvaille" - Rallye expos Vue d'Afrique, Moroccan Cultural Center, Montreal
2016 - "Small formats" - Josette Tilmant Art Gallery, St Sauveur
2016 - “Sensibility” - Fontaine Gallery, Gatineau
2016 - 15 - 14 - "Rencontre" - Rallye expos Vue d'Afrique, Montreal
2016 - 15 - “It's beautiful but what is it? »- Galerie des Cent Talents, Montreal
2015 - “Cities and Villages of Quebec as seen by 50 artists” - Laurier Museum in Victoriaville
2015 - "The art that seduces" - Galerie Carte Blanche, Montreal
2015 - "Entre Nous" - Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion
2014 - “The heritage… seen by our artists” - Maison de la culture Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Montreal
2014 - “C'est gros en petit” - Galerie Zéphyr, Montreal
2014 - Vue d'Afrique rally, Montreal, Maison Parent-Roback, Montreal
2014-13-12 - Themed exhibitions - Mile End Gallery, Montreal
2014 - "Art Market place" - Center d'art EK Voland Art Gallery , Montreal
2013 - “Traits d'Unions” - Rallye expos Vue d'Afrique, Montreal
2013 - “Femmes Artistes” - Rallye expos Vues d'Afrique, Montreal
2013 - “Luminosity, Yellow Art” - Contemporary Space, Montreal
2013 - ArtsSutton - Art Gallery, Sutton
2013 - "Vibrant" - Viva Vida Art Gallery, Pointe Claire
2012 - Nuit Blanche - Le Belgo, Le Verseau Art Gallery, Montreal
2011-12 - Le Verseau Art Gallery, Le Belgo, Montreal
2011-12 - Galerie d'Art Trudel, Joliette
Symposiums and salons with selection
2019 - Artfest - Distillery, Toronto
2018 - Toronto OutDoor, Toronto
2017 - “Fall dreams” Symposium Baie Saint-Paul
2019-18-17-16 - Live painting Festival Classica, St Lambert
2018-17-16 - Autumn Fair of the Mont St Hilaire Museum, Mont St Hilaire
2018-17-16-15-14-13 -12 - TRAM Fall Show, Town of Mont Royal
2016-15 - TRACES Symposium, Champboisé
2015 - Expo-vente Mtl en Arts / Plaza St-Hubert, Montreal
2014 - Symposium, Festiv'Art de Frelighsburg
2013-14 - 29th and 30th Competition-Gala, Circle of painters and sculptors of Quebec, Mtl
2013 - CAVMA Show - Palais des Congrès, Gatineau
2013 - Expo Concours Automnale AAPARS, Center Dulude, St-Bruno
2013 - Art and Gardens Symposium, Boucherville
2013 - At the artists' park, Art Gallery, Outremont
2013- Visit'Art Symposium, Ste-Hyacinthe
Professional involvement
2018 - Memory holes - Exhib'art, Saint Laurent Recreation Center
2018-17-16 -13 - “Parle-moi d'Amour”, Galerie des Impatients, Center Wellington, Montreal
2018-16-15-14 - Days of Culture, Montreal
2016 -15- 14 - Les Meals on Wheels, Montreal
2013- Le Baluchon- Ste Hyacinthe
Since 2013 - RAAV - Regrouping of visual artists in Quebec
Since 2012 - RACRPP - Rosemont Petite Patrie arts and culture group
Since 2012 - TRAM - Roundtable in Art - Ville Mon-Royal
Education
2017 - Sell your work without losing your soul - RAAV- Montreal
2017 - Sell your work without losing your soul - RAAV- Montreal
2013 - Artistic career management, Autonomous spaces, e-learning
2009-12 - Workshop of gesture, Montreal
2011 - Writing artistic approach and exhibition projects workshop - Regroupement des Artistes en artas visuels, Montreal
2006 - Post-graduate diploma (DESS) in Information Technology and Learning Environments, Uqàm-Téluq , University of Quebec, Canada
1996-98 - Atelier Plumelle, Montpellier, France
1996 - Bachelor's degree in multimedia and website design, Université Paul Valéry , Montpellier, France
Grants and awards
2018 - Second Price, TRAM Art Fair, Town of Mont-Royal
2016 - Guest artist - Spring show of the association of painters of Longueuil, Longueuil
2015 - Mention - TRAM Art Fair, Town of Mount-Royal
2015 - Sponsor Awards, TRAM Art Fair, Town of Mont-Royal
2014 - Bronze medal - Contemporary Art Category - 30th International Gala of Sound and Light Visual Arts, Montreal
2013 - 2nd prize in the non-figurative category - Fair competition AAPARS, Saint Bruno
2013 - 3rd Prize in Visual Art - Abstraction - Symposium Art & Jardins, Boucherville
2012 - Mention The Great Distinction In distinct technique - 29th Gala International des Arts visuels son et Lumière, Montreal
Jury
2016 - Fair competition, AAPL, Jacques-Ferron Cultural Center, Longueuil
2016 - Fair competition, Halte des arts, Val des monts
Publications
2019 - Artists for Peace Biennial - Exhibition catalog, Ecomusée du Fier Monde, Montreal
2019 - "From one ocean to another" - Collection of paintings and poems, Véronique Besançon - Montreal -ISBN 978-2-9816344-5-0
2018 - “I implore the moment not to leave me” - Collection of poems and paintings - Montreal- ISBN 978-2-9816344-4-3
2018 - "Marie and Véronique make an exhibition" - Exhibition catalog - Montreal - 978-2-9816344-3-6
20 18 - "Speak to me of love" - Catalog les impatients, Montreal
2018 - Catalog of the 2018 autumn fair, museums of fine arts of Mont St Hilaire -3-6
2017- “I am…” Collection of paintings and poems, Véronique Besançon - ISBN 978-2-9816344-1-2 -
2017 - "Horizon" Works of art chosen by the public collection of Ville Mont Royal - ISBN978-2-9804727-64-9-
2016 - "SelfieDeNous l'Exil" Collection of paintings and poems, Véronique Besançon - ISBN 978-2-9816344-0-5 -
2017 - Catalog of the 2018 autumn fair, museums of fine arts of Mont St Hilaire
2017 - "Speak to me of love" - Catalog the impatient - Center Wellington, Montreal
2017 - 2016 - Women in Art - Catalog, curator Leda Maria, Ward-Nasse Gallery, NY, USA
2016 - “SelfieDeNous l'Exil” - Collection of paintings and poems - ISBN 978-2-9816344-0-5 -Véronique Besançon
2016 - “150 variations of water stories”, Catalog of the 2016 autumn fair, museums of fine arts of Mont St Hilaire
2016 - 15 - International Directory of Fine Arts - Art Diffusion - France
2015 - Artsy Shark Feed - Abstract Showcase
2014 - Bola Show - Catalog - USA
2013 - Babill'AAPARS - 10th edition fair competition AAPARS - Unprecedented success! - Stéphane Bergeron - Canada
2013 - Get indignant! - Mile End Journal - Canada
2013 - RueMasson.com - What do we say to ourselves when we don't speak - Lisa Marie-Noël - Canada
2013 - UdeM Nouvelles Forum - Advisor and artist - Dominique Nancy - Canada