The art of being unique together

"𝑪̧𝒂 𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒅𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝒆́𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒋'𝒂𝒊 𝒑𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓."

It's sobering to hear these words coming out of a teenager's mouth. They take us back to the true essence of art, beyond its commercialization and the vernissages often associated with a certain bourgeoisism - wrongly, I'd say. Art should be a judgment-free space where self-expression is valued, where the simple act of creating is paramount, far more than the result or its value.

The "Art of Being Unique Together" project was a significant experiment, inviting young people from four hostels to reflect on their identity - their past, present and future.

Through various artistic explorations, some guided by the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ) and others by myself in the field of street art, they gave birth to works rich in meaning.

At the heart of this project is creation, even at the vernissage stage, where each guest had the opportunity to leave his or her mark by personalizing four guitars adorned with graffiti. These guitars will now bring color to the walls of the homes where they will be on permanent display.

I'd like to extend my warmest thanks to all those who generously contributed items for these workshops.

In addition to the hands-on workshops, those taking part in the project also visited other exhibitions at MNBAQ. These experiences were designed to introduce the young people to other artistic approaches. The aim was to enrich the works they were designing.

The project is both an opportunity to explore different art forms, and a way for young people to define themselves in ways other than the labels we sometimes impose on them.

A positive impact on young people's lives

Geneviève Tessier, psychoeducator and professional coordinator at CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, explains that the search for identity is an essential element in the development of adolescents, especially after they have gone through more difficult times. Getting to know oneself better enables them to make choices that are more consistent with their future aspirations. The explorations made by young people throughout the creative process also foster the development of self-esteem.

Ms. Tessier recounts how, at the vernissage, one of the participants took the floor to testify to the benefits of the project on his daily life. He had been through an eventful and trying year. The workshops organized enabled him to express himself freely in a safe space.

It was important for the young people to be involved in all phases of the project's development. From the design of the works to the installation itself, they played a central role. It was the young artists who determined how their workswould be arranged in the space.

An immersive exhibition

The exhibition is divided into two parts. The first includes works in the form of graffiti. The second features paintings, sculptures and drawings. Questions of identity are woven through the installations. These questions guided the young people in their artistic approach. They allow visitors to better interpret the works, while serving as a starting point for personal reflections."

Olivier Alain (Quebec, 2024, February 01). "The art of being unique together, getting to know each other". Monsaintroch - Arts and culture, community lifeon https://monsaintroch.com/. Accessed March 4, 2024

Full article: https://monsaintroch.com/2024/lart-detre-unique-ensemble-apprendre-a-se-connaitre/