Following a call for applications that generated considerable excitement among artists with non-disciplinary artistic practices, the Insectarium and the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) are pleased to announce that artists Léa Boudreau and Caroline Hayeur have both won residencies organized jointly by the Insectarium and the CAM for a second consecutive year.
In view of the quantity and quality of the entries, it has been decided to support two residency projects in 2025 rather than just one. Over a six-month period, the residencies provide support for the creation of a new work inspired by the rich and surprising world of insects
The awarded artists
Léa Boudreau – "Essaim"
Léa Boudreau creates sound, visual, interactive and site-specific works that look at human beings in relationship to ambiguous hybrid creatures existing somewhere between the natural and the technological, the inert and the animate. Her work probes inter-species relationships and the hierarchies that divide our world.
Lea’s project will take the form of a sound-and-motion installation inspired by the concepts of swarm intelligence and emergence. Highlighting our similarities with insects and encouraging visitors to think about our relationships with them, it will feature a multitude of small electronic creatures that interact with each other and their immediate environment.
The residencies will take place at the Insectarium until September and will culminate in public presentations at a time and place yet to be determined.
Caroline Hayeur - "Que font les insectes noctivagues?"
Backed by 30 years of experience in the field and following in the tradition of documentaries and visual poetry, Caroline Hayeur explores places and forms of socialization. Her approach can be described as an ethnology of the everyday. Her practice incorporates the media arts, video and, more recently, infrared tools to capture the unique beauty of nightlife.
As part of her residency, Caroline will take a patient look at the nocturnal activities of the museum’s insects and gather feedback from its scientists. Together with sound artist Myléna Bergeron, she will create a project that is at once informative, poetic and dreamlike. The results will be ready to be sculpted and transformed for presentation as a performance, exhibition or immersive installation
A Celebration of Entomophilia
The public presentations resulting from these residencies are part of the Insectarium’s Celebrating Entomophilia program, a series of off-site events designed to promote the appreciation of insects and their essential role in maintaining the balance of nature. Celebrating Entomophilia aims to inspire creators from different disciplines, who can then pass on their vision, discoveries and enthusiasm to the public. Recent programs have laid the groundwork for new creations in dance, electronic music and the visual and culinary arts.
Visit the Artist residency at the Insectarium | Espace pour la vie page to find out more about this residency program.
