artist biography

Annie Briard is a Montreal-based artist with a BFA in Interdisciplinary Studio Arts from Concordia University (2008).

Her interdisciplinary practice encompasses a vast range of media including painting and drawing, video, animation, sculpture, performance, textiles and installation; her art is deeply rooted in the philosophy of being and environmental relationships and connections. 

Her works have been exhibited nationally as well as in Italy, Czech Republic and Beijing. Screenings of her videos have been presented since 2005 in artist-run centres and galleries, notably in Montreal’s Mainline Theatre, Art Mûr gallery, Articule, Studio XX and Nexus, and at the NFB mediatheque (Toronto) in 2008, as well as the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (Beijing) in 2009 for the “Canadian Cameras at Work” showcase.

Her performances and installations have been featured throughout Montreal, notably including Branchements, a commissioned performance at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (2008) and Pining for Nuit Blanche at Plum Gallery (2008). In 2009, she participated in a residency in Bass River and her interactive performative installation Fallings was featured at the White Rabbit Arts Festival (Nova Scotia).

 

artist statement

Where does the self begin, and end? What is reality; can the real be untangled from the imagined? These luring thoughts permeate my consciousness, consistently and invariably uprooting me from the present moment. It is these perceptions and the purpose behind them that generate my work: urgent explorations in the dissociation between somatic and subliminal realities.

The human mind perceives two realms: waking life – the physical, tangible sphere of daily existence; and dreams or le néant – the space where the mind floats free from the body. Our consciousness holds these two perspectives together homogeneously, to allow for survival but also for a meaningful human existence. But what happens when there is “dissociation” between these two seemingly negating spheres, when they are sharply split into two pieces? Faced at once with the view of the physical world we live in, and that of the existential black hole, coexisting together, forces an individual to consider both realities before every action.

Through an interdisciplinary practice encompassing video, animation, photography, installation, painting and performance I create saturated pieces that seek to conjure dialogue about this questioning, in the form of personally affecting experiences. Sharing what I see, engaging in an intense discussion about the existential thoughts quietly residing in the back of everyone’s minds.

 

exhibitions list

Solo

2009 “Branchements” commissioned sculpture/performance, permanent collection,
          Caisse des dépôts et placements du Québec, [CDPQ], Montreal

2008  “Ciel Rouge” solo show, curated by Krystal Anderson, Post Meridian gallery, 
          Montreal

2008  “ Red Selections”  exhibition at Matricules launch event, Studio XX, Montreal

2008  “Arborescence Red” interdisciplinary solo show, Nexus gallery, Montreal

 

Group

2010 “The Wall Project: Transformations” series I, II and III, curated by Joyce Yahouda,
         Joyce Yahouda Gallery, Montreal

2009 “Canadian Cameras at Work” group exhibition curated by Travis Joern,
          Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, China

2009 “Boudoir”, Sensoria event curated by Karim Talaat, video screening,
          Prague, Czech Republic

2009 “Fallings” installation and performance, White Rabbit Arts Festival,
          Bass River (Bay of Fundy), Nova Scotia

2009 “AAVA showcase”, Galerie Articule, Montreal

2009 “Pining” performance for Nuit Blanche, Plum gallery, Montreal

2008 “TAIS animation showcase”, NFB mediatheque, Toronto, ON

2008  AAVA awards Gala and screening, La Sala Rossa, Montreal

2008 “Tree Hugger”, The Void magazine launch and screening, Drawn & Quarterly,
           Montreal

2007 “Andalunda” show and screening, Mainline Theatre, Montreal

2007 “Friendly Fire”, curated by Joshua Barndt and Ed Janzen, Art Matters festival,
          Galerie Art Mûr, Montreal

2006 “Seen and Herd” commissioned collaborative video installation,
          Concordia University, Montreal

2005 “Le Show” interdisciplinary exhibition, Le Local, Montreal

2005  “Window Watching” video installations, store front windows, Art Matters festival,
           Montreal

2005  “Night of the Film” screening, curated by Malgorzata Babiarz, De Sève Theatre,
           Art Matters festival, Montreal