Between Past and Present: Forgotten Histories of Montréal
An exhibition by the collective Je suis Montréal, sheds light on the history and identity of Indigenous, Black, and Chinese people whose experiences have been largely erased from the official historical narrative of Montréal.
L’exposition, prolongement du projet Entre le passé et le présent, du collectif Je suis Montréal, porte l’attention sur l’histoire et l’identité des personnes autochtones, noires et chinoises qui ont été invisibilisées dans le récit du passé de Montréal.
Historical scenes depicting these Montréal communities were reenacted to connect past and present, and photographer Bliss Mutanda created collages juxtaposing archival pictures of Montréal with recent photographs of BIPOC youth.
Between Past and Present was created as a virtual exhibition in 2020 and presented for a week in February 2023 at the WIP Art Gallery as part of Nuit blanche. It has now been adapted for the MEM Kiosque, after being selected by the MEM’s Community Engagement Committee.
About the collective Je suis Montréal
Je suis Montréal is a collective that challenges the dominant understanding of what it means to be a Montrealer and Quebecer in order to give a sense of belonging to all QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), regardless of their colour, language, culture, orientation, gender, and religion. It highlights those who have been historically excluded and often forgotten through art projects, discussions, and panels on issues such as social inclusion, engagement, and identity. Its initiatives are based on the belief that art can be used as a soft power to change the cultural and social fabric.