For aficionados and first-time visitors alike, Montreal’s art menu has blissfully magnified to offer a new space withholding some of the most alluring pieces in local contemporary art. Seeing as Old Montreal is commonly regarded upon as an area already saturated with exquisite galleries, Galerie 203 has newly opened its doors to contribute and further refine our appreciation for the arts. Galerie 203 is a brainchild of co-owner and Director Corrine Assaref and her partner Victor Charlebois, co-owner of the ultra-hip “L’Assomoir” restaurants. Their most recent exhibition, entitled “Vernissage Collectif,” stemmed from an appeal to fuse and showcase works from various established and up-and-coming contemporary artists.
Galerie 203 offers two floors of unrefined space where a nice flow of vibrant paintings and creations are juxtaposed against a coarse, natural backdrop. The brick walls in certain areas of the gallery offer a more raw and vital spirit to its presentation of contemporary art. The neighbouring room, however, provides openness, air, and light with a sensation of ample and ever-changing space. The environment at the gallery allows viewers to naturally develop a free-floating, wandering attitude as they revel in the retrospective of the particular genre.
Rather than to focus on exhibiting works solely by the renowned resident artists of Galerie 203, the “Vernissage Collectif” aimed to curate a show that intermingled newcomers amongst the senior artists. This amalgamation was certainly successful in setting a flawless flow between neighbouring works. Some of the main artists at the show were Arcade Latour, Daniel Stanford, Jessica Gorlicky, Kate Kova, Stephanie Deslisle, Suzanne Colello and many more. Subtle complexities did emanate from the arrangement of varied works. Marie-Eve Proteau’s art, for example, certainly projected as it had escaped the confines of a canvas. Her pieces depicted sensual iconography within the frame of old television sets. Alain Dahan’s “Art of the Image” approach equally stood out due to the decaying nature of his urban landscapes. Dahan mainly focuses on photography, but dexterously distorts images to depict society’s converging effects of new growth and inexorable decay. One of the show’s most commanding pieces seemed to have been hung in the far end of the gallery. Corrine Doche’s work “Tattoo,” renamed “Bad Bitch” (for obvious reasons) certainly anchored the sizeable space. The venerated piece conveyed the intrinsically rebellious qualities of an outlawed “femme fatale.” Doche’s style is often recognizable by her appeal to capture the seductively sublime and to commemorate infectious beauty.
Galerie 203 will showcase its permanent collection Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 7:00pm, as well as 9:00am to midnight on Thursdays through Saturdays. Make sure to like Facebook page for updates on forthcoming exhibitions or visit their website at www.galerie203.com for any additional inquiries.
PHOTO: FOTAU.COM