Nadia Myre
Dans l'attente...While Wainting
2019
© Nadia Myre
crédit photo: Marc-Olivier Bécotte, 2019
Presentation of the artwork
The artwork is based on a reproduction of the treaty of the Great Peace of Montréal, featuring the effigies that various representatives of Indigenous nations used as signatures. From little line drawings, the effigies have become sculptures made of bronze rods. They portray human and animal silhouettes, as well as objects, such as a pipe, and places, such as a quarry.The artwork is composed of four groupings of bronze sculptures arranged longitudinally on the block, creating an open, airy space that invites exploration and strolling. One of the groupings, which playfully superimposes faces, evokes gathering and community spirit. The effigies in the artwork were chosen both for their historical importance and for their visual interest.
Associated events
Artist Nadia Myre’s work While Waiting | Dans l’attente... underlines and celebrates centuries of Indigenous presence on the territory of Montréal and questions how that presence occupies the space today. The goal of the proposal for an artwork on the Bonaventure block is to commemorate an important historical event: the Great Peace of Montréal. On 4 August 1701, Montréal was the site of an important gathering: the representatives of 39 Indigenous nations came from all over North America to sign a peace treaty with the French authorities.
Nadia Myre
Nadia Myre is an indigenous and quebecois artist from Montreal who is interested in having conversations about identity, resilience and politics of belonging. A graduate from Camosun College (1995), Emily Carr (1997), and Concordia University (M.F.A., 2002), Myre is a recipient of numerous awards, notably Banff Centre for Arts Walter Phillips Gallery Indigenous Commission Award (2016), Sobey Art Award (2014), Pratt & Whitney Canada’s ‘Les Elles de l’art’ for the Conseil des arts de Montréal (2011), Quebec Arts Council’s Prix à la création artistique pour la region des Laurentides (2009), and a Fellowship from the Eiteljorg Museum (2003). Recent accomplishments include Tout ce qui reste / Scattered Remains (Montreal Museum of Fine Art, 2017), Decolonial Gestures or Doing it Wrong? Refaire le chemin (McCord Museum, 2016) and commissions for new work: the Quebec Room carpet design (2015) for Canada House in London, England (with Karen Spencer), Orison (galerie Oboro, 2014), Formes et Paroles (Musée Dapper, Senegal, 2014), and Sakahàn (National Gallery of Canada, 2013). As well as having participated in international biennales (Shanghai 2014, Sydney 2012, and Montreal 2011), Myre’s work has featured in prominent group exhibitions such as Changing Hands 3 (Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY), Pour une république des rêves (CRAC Alsace – Centre Rhénan d’Art Contemporain, Altkirch, FR), Le temp du dessin (Ensemble Poirel, Nancy, France), Vantage Point (National Museum of American Indian National Mall, Washington, DC), It Is What It Is (National Gallery of Canada), and Femmes Artistes. L’éclatement des frontières 1965-2000 (Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, QC). Her work has received accolades from the New York Times, The Washington Post, and Le Devoir, and has been featured in ARTnews, Canadian Art, Parachute, American Craft, C Magazine, and Monopol. Her works may be found on permanent exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, National Gallery of Canada, Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec, Canadian Museum of History, and the Musée des civilizations (Quebec).
Awards and honours
- lauréat/lauréate, Prix Louis-Comtois, 2021
- Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec, 2019
- Prix artistique Sobey, 2014
- lauréat/lauréate, Prix Louis-Comtois, 2021
