Mur à Mur An Exhibition by Diane Dufresne and Richard Langevin

At Espace Création Loto-Québec from February 3 to May 9, 2010

MONTREAL , Feb. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - When Diane Dufresne's imaginative, extravagant and original works are showcased by her partner, theatre designer and sculptor Richard Langevin , there is no doubt as to the result: great creativity! From February 3 to May 9, 2010 , Espace Création Loto-Québec will be hosting a fascinating trip into Diane Dufresne's world thanks to Mur à Mur, an exhibition-event.

The Multiple Facets of Diane Dufresne

Diane Dufresne is versatility and emotion personified, a breaker of barriers when it comes to shapes, colours and propitious combinations of mediums and styles. Though creativity has always been a driving force in her life, she cemented that direction when she took classes from Frère Jérôme in the 80s. For a long time, she sheltered her paintings from view in her workshop, but for over ten years now, her art has taken centre stage next to her talent as a singer. Diane Dufresne has exhibited her works in Montréal, Québec City, New York and Paris .

Mur à Mur brings together the three active aspects of her creativity with the presentation of a selection of unpublished works, all produced specifically for the exhibition. Her stage performances, painting and writing complement, inspire and feed on each other. Through her paintings, the artist amazes, flowing from pure, automatistic abstract through to the extravagance and humour of the figurative characters for which she is well-known.

The Surprising Richard Langevin

The installations Richard Langevin has designed showcase the works of his muse, giving them a new life and different meaning. From one work of art emerges another: painting becomes sculpture, characters invade the space beyond their frames, stage performances inspire video projections, music permeates space, words are embodied through the skillful use of multimedia... The whole presentation vibrates with the pure energy that emanates from both artists.

Langevin explains the concept during an interview with L'Actualité: "This is not an exhibition where Diane's paintings are here and my sculptures are there; it is a symbiosis of our styles. I take inspiration from her paintings, her choice of colours, even her stage costumes, and I create installations. I give them another meaning; I rebuild her visual world."

As a visual artist, stage designer and sculptor, Richard Langevin has himself participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions. He taught visual arts and communications for 15 years and is one of the founders of the Centre d'Animation et de Design (NAD) affiliated with the SOFTIMAGE Company. He is currently the Training Director at the Société des arts technologiques (SAT) in Montréal.

Amazing collaborators

Diane Dufresne and Richard Langevin brought together talented creators to produce Mur à Mur: Alain Lortie, lighting expert; Sébastien Dallaire, illumination installations; Pierre Gagnon , soundscaping; Jacques Beauchemin , videography; Michel Marois , 3-D graphics; Manuel Chantre, robotics; Mario Davignon and Marie Saint Pierre, costume installations.

Visitors' input

During her Effusion tour last spring, Diane Dufresne handed a blank sheet of paper to each member of the audience, inviting them to express themselves through pictures or words. All the drawings thus produced were included in an installation set up at the exhibition's entrance. Others will be created on site by exhibition visitors.

The works of an artist with unbridled imagination who continually pushes the limits of her art are combined with those of an inspired sculptor with proven creative experience, displayed from wall to wall - Mur à mur. Diane Dufresne and Richard Langevin join to share their imaginative talent from February 3 to May 9 at Espace Création Loto-Québec.

    
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    Espace Création
    Ground floor of Loto-Québec's head office
    500 Sherbrooke Street West
    Montréal - McGill Metro Station

    Opening hours:
    Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m.
    Admission is free
    

Tel.: [phone], ext. 2829; 514-499-5087

lotoquebec.com/espacecreation

For further information: Media Relations: Julie Delorme, Communications Papineau-Couture, [phone]