BACA - Saint-Hyacinthe
Land Back
Contemporary Native Art Biennial
From October 1 to December 23, 2022
Curator: Michael Patten
Since time immemorial, indigenous peoples have protected biodiversity in the face of continued human population growth. Since contact with settlers, indigenous communities have been stripped of their ancestral lands; the Land Back movement aims to restore governance and stewardship of the land for a sustainable future.
If Land Back is a call to action, a return of equity to a stolen territory, it is also an opening to some questioning. How can we best protect biodiversity, land and water? The first step would be to return the land to its traditional and legitimate protectors. Returning to indigenous knowledge goes beyond symbolic gestures of recognition or inclusion to significantly change practices and structures.
EXPRESSION was initially founded as a visual arts gallery at the Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe in 1985. In 1989, EXPRESSION became a museum institution, moving to its current location, a vast space on the 2nd floor of Saint-Hyacinthe’s public market, described by many as one of the most beautiful of its kind in Québec. EXPRESSION is a space that has made its mark on Québec and Canadian art scenes. EXPRESSION initiates students to contemporary art on a daily basis. EXPRESSION frequently publishes remarkable books on contemporary art. EXPRESSION promotes the work of renowned contemporary artists. EXPRESSION benefits from the expertise of a core team seasoned by years of challenges and successes. EXPRESSION is made up of administrators and a community who have ceaselessly supported contemporary art. EXPRESSION has been growing for 35 years.
With its impressive and innovative history, EXPRESSION is an exhibition centre destined to become a full-fledged museum.
