About the Artist
For the last ten years, Besner has dedicated the entirety of his time to his art in an effort to aesthetically represent his view of the world. His paintings, colourful and moving, are rooted in architectural studies, as well as inspired by the works of his teachers, and his walks along the streets of Montreal.
His art bears witness to an insistent and amused gaze on the world. Deeply moved by the degeneration of the body, by a physicality that imprints itself upon the retina and is cause for reflection, Besner brings into existence scarred personages and traces of a fragmented past; these creatures, who are occasionally shadows of themselves, embrace their destiny without hesitation. These fabulous “fauves” or untamed beasts, who/that dwell within all of us, inspired in part by Otto Dix, Edvard Munch, Leonor Fini, and the cartoonist Nicolas de Crecy, move through the city, vulnerable and gnawed by hope…
Three books have also been published by the artist: La demesure des convoites, Dominic Besner (2000-2004), and Dominic Besner (1993-2000). |
Curriculum Vitae
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007 ‘’Banquet of Nacara’’, Venise Cadre Gallery, Casablanca (Morocco)
Oct 9-19th 2004 ‘’The excess of the coveted ‘’, CDP Capital Center, Montreal (Canada)
Nov. 1st 2004 ‘’ The Xth past city ‘’, Head office of the Cirque du Soleil, Montréal, (Canada)
Ma 24th–Ap. 21st ’02 ‘’ The moan of the moons ‘’, Estampe Plus Gallery, Quebec, (Canada)
Nov. 18-19, 2000 Saint-Dizier Gallery, Montreal (Canada)
May 20-21st 2000 Besner at Baie-Saint-Paul, Iris Art Gallery, Baie-Saint-Paul (Canada)
Oct. 4-29th, 1998 ‘’ Dramatic turn of events ’’ Estampe Plus, Québec (Canada)
October 1995 Naomi Gallery, Montreal (Canada)
Museum Exhibitions
Sept 23, 2007- Vaudreuil-Dorion Museum (Canada)
Nov. 4, 2007 (Exhibition ‘’The night of the cities‘’, presenting architectural models, stained glass and painting)
11 JAN. 2007– Musée La Villa des Arts de Casablanca (Maroc)
March 15, 2007 (Itinerant exhibition Au Fil de l’Art presented by the ONA Foundation and R.A.R.E.)
June 4, 2007 ( Exhibition Au Fil de l’Art, artworks of Besner presented with the caftans of three Moroccan designers: Karim Tassi, Albert Oiknine and Mohamed Lakhdar)
29 NOV. 2003– Musée de Las Artes de l’Université de Guadalajara (Mexique)
30 JAN. 2004 Group show organized by Loto-Québec)
2000 Musée Pierre-Boucher, Trois-Rivières (Canada).
Selected Group Exhibitions
November 2007 MX Gallery, Au Fil de l’Art, Artworks of Besner presented alongside Haute-couture fashion by six Quebec designers (Yso, Denis Gagnon, Yves Jean Lacasse, Antonio Ortega, Rush Couture, Andy Thê-Ahn) in addition to three Moroccan designers (Karim Tassi, Albert Oiknine and Mohamed Lakhdar) Montreal (Canada)
June 2007 Galerie MX, soirée Rendez-vous, Montréal (Canada) June 2007 MX Gallery, ‘’Rendez-vous night’’, Montreal, (Canada)
March 2006 Las Olas Fine Arts, Strawberries–Champagne, Fort Lauderdale, Floride (Florida) January 2006 (USA) Rosetta Stone Fine Art, A Night at the Circus, Juno Beach, Floride (Florida)
May 2005 Thenth Anniversary, Saint-Dizier Gallery, Montreal, (Canada)
2003-2004 Galerie 479, Ottawa (Canada);
Galerie du Dauphin, Honfleur (France).
March 19 2004 Galerie Estampe Plus, Québec (Canada).
2000-2007 Represented by Estampe Plus Gallery, Quebec (Canada)
2000-2003 Teodora Art Gallery, Toronto (Canada).
11 NOV.– Les Impatients, Centre d’expression et d’interprétation, Montréal (Canada).
19 DEC. 2002 Nov. 11 – Les impatients, Center of Expression and interpretation, Montreal
NOV. 2002 Galerie Saint-Dizier, Montréal (Canada).
1999 Artrageous Gallery, New York (USA);
Galerie Drabinsky, Toronto (Canada).
1997 Galerie d’art du Petit Champlain, Québec (Canada).
1996 Galerie Le Portal, Québec (Canada); Louise Smith Gallery, Toronto (Canada).
1995 Galerie Leclerc-Churchill, Montréal (Canada).
Selected Collections
Public Collections
Casino de Charlevoix; Casino de Hull; Flora Canada; Loto-Québec; Monnaie royale canadienne, Musée La Villa des Arts de Casablanca, Fondation ONA (Maroc); Musée Régional Vaudreuil-Soulanges
Corporate collections
Assurance La Capitale; Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, Atlantic City (États-Unis); Cirque du Soleil; La Clé de Sol; Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec; Gowling, Lafleur, Henderson, avocats; Imprimerie Quad; Restaurant Saloon Montréal; Proaction
Education
1992 Bachelor of architecture at University of Montreal (Canada)
1988 Diploma of architectural technique at College Algonquin, Ottawa (Canada)
Media coverage
GHIO, Lena et GENDRON, France, Mettez-y du piquant, «Dominic Besner vient nous parler de Au fil de l’art» CHOQ FM, entrevue radiophonique, Montréal, 18 juin 2007, 31 min.
BUNDOCK, Pierre et François ARSENEAULT, «Dominic Besner, La mécanique des villes», Les productions Cirque du Soleil. Court métrage produit par Le Cirque du Soleil et Mensi&Rioux, Montréal, 20 avril 2007, 20 min.
MCQUADE, Pénélope, Passepart, Montréal, 20 nov. 2004, 27 min.
Radio de TVOntario, entrevue en direct, duplex Montréal-Toronto, 18 nov. 2004.
NADEAU, Pascale et Paul TOUTAN, «Dominic Besner présente une exposition intitulée La démesure des convoités à l’édifice de la Caisse de dépôt et de placement à Montréal», Le téléjournal, Montréal ce soir, CBFT Radio-Canada, 12 nov. 2004, 1 min 49. BESNER / 6
TRUDEAU, Dennis et Geneviève ROYER, «Dominic Besner présente une exposition intitulée La démesure des convoités à l’édifice de la Caisse de dépôt et de placement à Montréal», Canada Now, entrevue télé pour CBC News, CBMT, 12 nov. 2004, 2 min 20.
DÉSAUTELS, Michel et Marie-Christine TROTTIER, «L’artiste Dominic Besner expose ses oeuvres sur le parquet de la Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec à Montréal», Désautels, entrevue radio CBF Radio-Canada, 8 nov. 2004, 5 min 23.
DALLAIRE, Simon, «Le rêve», Tablo, émission télé présentée par Artv, 18 jan. 2003, 7 min 9.
ROBILLARD, Pierrette, entrevue radio Radio-Canada, duplex Montréal-Toronto, 17 juin 2002,
15 min 56.
MASSICOTTE, Yves-Etienne, TFO (réseau de télédiffusion en français de TVOntario), nov. |
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