Art souterrain - 8th edition of the contemporary art festival, under the theme: Must art be appealing?

Seven kilometres of art exhibitions in Montreal's underground city
February 27 to March 20, 2016

MONTREAL, Feb. 24, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Since 2009, ART SOUTERRAIN has been attracting a large audience and turning them on to contemporary art. Unique in North America, the festival takes place in Montreal's famed underground city, a network of pedestrian passages used by over 100,000 people daily.

The festival takes art outside conventional venues and into the public space, showcasing the diverse practices and modes of expression of artists from the local, national and international scenes. Each year, the event attracts thousands of people who crisscross the underground city on a quest for art.

Kicking off February 27 during Montreal's Nuit Blanche, this 8^th edition of ART SOUTERRAIN will have as its theme Must art be appealing? and run until March 20, featuring, over its three weeks, 63 works by 86 Canadian and international artists, on display throughout 13  sites of the underground city, organized into four circuits accessible free of charge.

Among the artists featured: Ambroise Tézenas (I was here, photography - France); Mark Jenkins (original sculpture-installation - U.S.); Dina Goldstein (Gods of Suburbia, photography - Canada); Zhang Kechun (The Yellow River, photography - China); Michel de Broin (Jeux de tables, installation - Canada); Allison Schulnik (Mound 2011, video - U.S.); Erika De Freitas (The Impossible Speech Act, photography - Canada); Christos Pantieras (I miss talking to you, installation - Mexico); and Jesper Just (A Vicious Undertow, video - Denmark). As well, works from collections, both private (Arsenal) and public (the Loto-Québec Collection, the Canada Council Art Bank), will be presented.

New this year, a satellite trail will allow festival-goers to prolong their artistic experience at 10 partner cultural venues throughout the city.

More than 30 activities will be offered during the festival: visits of major private collections, visits to Montreal artists' workshops, cocktail hours (5 à 7), workshops for the entire family as well as creative workshops geared towards school groups.

The artistic team for ART SOUTERRAIN 2016 is comprised of senior curator and general director Frédéric Loury with Quebecers Anais Castro and Marie-Josée Rousseau as guest curators.

From February 26 to March 20, 2016, ART SOUTERRAIN invites everyone to a great artistic walkabout in the city.

www.artsouterrain.com | Facebook | Instagram: artsouterrain | #festivalAS2016

SOURCE Art Souterrain

Media inquiries: Marie Marais, 514-845-2821 - [email protected]