Jonathan Villeneuve

| EN | FR
| Work | About | Contact

My work is made out of common objects and materials - familiar elements that evoke the architecture of the everyday. I assemble these elements in ways that highlight their poetic and narrative potential. My installations triggers a physical reaction in the visitor, particularly due to the scale of the piece and its uncanny movements. It evokes a personal and embodied experiences with architecture as constructed environment.

 

I build structures that are activated by mechanical, electrical, and electronic mechanisms while addressing the modern notion of the autonomous object. This pseudo functional amalgam address pataphysics and refers to the idea of the gadget, the 'thing-a-ma-jig', a thing of a vague utility, with an imaginary functionality.

 

By researching the mechanisms of construction of time through movement I aim to push my work beyond it's own materiality. More than just simple objects, my structures activate the space through their sound, as well as through their animated play of lights and shadows in the exhibition space. These elements as time-based and intangible extend the sculptural quality of the work and accentuate its character as time-architecture.

Education

2006-2009 : MFA Studio Arts, Open-Media, Concordia University.
2001-2004 : BFA, UQÀM

Solo Exhibitions

2013 : Oboro, Montreal, Canada. Sound Devices
2011 : Galerie d'art du centre culturel de l'Universsité de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada. Longueur d'onde
2011 : Eastern Edge, St-John, NF, Canada. Wavelength
2011 : Chambre Blanche, Québec, Canada. Le long de la 20 en passant par la 15
2011 : Espace Virtuel, Chicoutimi, Canada. Faire la Vague
2010 : Gallerie Sans Nom, Moncton, NB, Canada. Mouvement de masse
2009 : Musée d'Art Contemporain des Laurentides, St-Jérôme, Canada. Faire la Vague
2008 : Galerie Art Mûr, Montréal, Canada. Trace, installation collective en trois temps L / V / S

Public art

2011 : Quebec Circus School, Québec, Canada - Organicus : Interactive light installation / permanent

Performances

2009 : Athens Video Festival, Athens, Grece. Grace State Machines
2008 : Carte blanche @ Elektra, Maison des métallos, Paris, France. Grace State Machines
2008 : Festival 404, Trieste, Italy. Grace State Machines
2007 : Festival Subtle Technologies, Toronto, Canada. Grace States Machines
2005 : Festival Piksel/HKS (Hordaland Kunst Center), Bergen, Norvège. Drone

Group Exhibitions

2012 : Centre d'exposition de Rouyn-Noranda, Rouyn-Noranda, Canada
2012 : Festival de musique actuelle de Victoriaville, Sérénade
2012 : Centre nationale d'exposition de Jonquière, Jonquière, Canada, Mouvement de Masse
2012 : Centre d'exposition d'Amos, Amos, Canada, Mouvement de Masse
2011 : Centre d'exposition Raymond-Lasnier, Trois-Rivière, Canada, Mouvement de Masse
2009 : Lab-30, Augsburg, Germany. Trace L
2008 : 404 Festival, Trieste, Italy. Trace L
2007 : Galerie Expression, St-Hyacinthe, Canada. TraceV / Abysse
2007 : Alucine Festival / Galerie 1313, Toronto, Canada. Trace L
2007 : Musée d'Art Contemporain des Laurentides, St-Jérôme, Canada. Trace L
2005 : Piksel Festival/ HKS (Hordaland Kunst Center), Bergen, Norway. Travel Agent
2005 : Printemps Plein temps 05 / Galerie de L'UQAM, Montréal, Canada. Cube
2004 : Paramètre 2004 / Galerie de l'UQAM, Montréal, Canada. La Station
2003 : Paramètre 2003 / Galerie de l'UQAM, Montréal, Canada. Réflexion

Residencies

2012 : Avatar, Québec, Canada
2011 : Chambre Blanche, Québec, Canada.
2005 : BEK (Bergen Electronic Kunst Center), Bergen, Norway.

Grant & Distinctions

2011 : Development grants - Research and creation, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
2010 : Development grants - Research and creation, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
2010 : Short listed for the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Fellowship in Contemporary Art, Concordia University
2010 : Grants to New Media and Audio Artists: Research and Production Grants, Canada Council for the Arts
2008 : Lauréat du concours Jeunes artistes en arts visuels des Laurentides.
2007 : Grants to New Media and Audio Artists: Research and Production Grants, Canada Council for the Arts
2006 : Tuition Remission Fees Award. Concordia University
2005 : Robert Wolf Grant, Printemps plein temps 05 / Galerie de l'UQÀM, for the video installation Cube.
2004 : Discreet Logic Grant, Paramètre 2004 / Galerie de l'UQÀM, for the video installation La Station.
2003 : Mention, Paramètre 2003 / Galerie de l'UQÀM, for the video installation Réflexion.

Professional Experience in the Arts

2011-... : Board member at La Chambre Blanche
2010 : Teaching at the Visual Arts Faculty, University of Ottawa, ART4929 / Sculpture Media
2008- 2009 : Board member of CQAM (Conseil québécois des arts médiatiques).
2007- ... : Board member at Perte de signal.
2008 : Teaching assistant for Éric Raymond, AVM3301: interactivité, ubiquité et virtualité, UQÀM.
2008: Teaching assistant for Peter Flemming, IMCA 320: Interactivity Studio in Electronic Arts, Concordia.
2006-2008 : Research assistant de Bill Vorn, Concordia University.
2004-2006 : HEXAGRAM UQAM research-creation institute in media art
2005 : Teach. assist. for Gysele Trudel, AVM2300 Conception et modélisation en imagerie de synthèse UQÀM.

Artist talk

2011 : Eastern Edge Gallery, St-John's, NL, Canada
2011 : Centre d'exposition Raymond Lasnier, Trois-Rivières, Canada
2010 : Galerie Sans Nom, Moncton, NB, Canada
2010 : Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
2009 : Athens Video Festival, Athens, Greece
2008 : Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
2007 : Festival Subtle Technologies, Toronto, Canada.
2005 : UQÀM Gallery, Montreal, Canada.

Press

2012 : Inter - Art actuel : #110, spring 2012 - p.: 91,92 - En bordure d'autoroute - Nathalie Bachand
2011 : The Telegram / St-John's : April 29thl 2011 - p.:B1 - Carving Space - Craig Francis Power
2011 : CBC Radio / St-John's, NF : April 30th 2011 - WeekendArts Magazine
2011 : Le Soleil / Québec : March 21th 2011 - p.:35 - Mécanismes poétiques - Josiannes Desloges
2011 : Voir - Saguenay / Alma : February 3rd 2011 - p.:10 - L'espace d'un instant - Barbara Garant
2010 : Guerilla / Ottawa : Issue #24, June 2010 - p.: 9,10 - Cultural Metropolis Montreal - Tony Martins
2009 : ETC - Revue de l'art actuel : #86, June-August 2009 - p.: 46,47 - Entangled Technologies - Valérie Lamontagnee