On the Walls: The art you need to see this week

Justin Lalancette’s “Trophée de chasse” at Galerie Dominique Bouffard

Here’s what’s happening in galleries and art centres across Montreal this week:

Galerie Bernard presents some of the final work from artist Fernand Toupin in INÉDITS. This abstract painter, originally from Quebec, is best known for his assistance in founding les Plasticiens, a movement born out of a response to Surrealism. The Plasticiens focused heavily on works with detailed colours, lines and contrast. INÉDITS features 13 never-seen pieces from the late Toupin, all of which make up a series called “Écorces sous la neige.” Vernissage on April 3 at Galerie Bernard (3926 St-Denis), 5 p.m.

Justin Lalancette’s Épris de Travers is an exploration of intimacy, seeking freedom and peace of mind in a society so deeply constricted in social media, reality television and other day-to-day inanities. This topic is explored in myriad ways: through the use of collage, graffiti and posters quite literally ripped from the streets, Lalancette creates multidimensional and layered pieces that might just distract from the distracting. Vernissage on April 3 at Galerie Dominique Bouffard (1000 Amherst), 6 p.m.

Artist Julie-Maud Desormiers’s collection features images torn out of back issues of Vogue magazine that she has collected over the years. Desormiers, fluent in art, fashion and graphic creates nostalgic pictures using collage and brilliant folds that create a geometric design. There’s a certain nostalgia present throughout En t’attendant, as the artist reflects over what’s lost when time passes. Vernissage on April 4 at Espace Projet (353 Villeray), 5 p.m.

At Fonderie Darling come two exhibits by artists familiar with the space. First, In Union presents a collection of work by Milutin Gubash that deals with the pressure artists face in producing art. This latest was crafted specifically for presentation at the Fonderie. Then, head over to the small gallery where Vancouver artist Damla Taler’s Due to its nature, it only moves forward will be showing. Both vernissages on April 4 at Fonderie Darling (745 Ottawa), 5 p.m.

As is customary with graduation students, the Passage à découvert event, at Galerie de L’UQAM, is an opportunity for students graduating from the Visual and Media Arts programs to showcase their work. Vernissage on April 4 at Galerie de L’UQAM (1400 Berri), 5:30 p.m.

As a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, Rats 9 Gallery presents Fire With Water, which offers attendees a safe space to discuss and learn more about sexual assault and violence and relating topics. Videos, performances pieces and an art exhibit all make up the evening’s offerings. Vernissage on April 5 at Galerie Rats 9 (372 Ste-Catherine, #530), 6:30 p.m.

At Centre Culturel MAI, and in collaboration with the South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC), comes Le 7e Registre, featuring artists Sarindar Dhaliwal and Atanas Bozdarov (from Ontario), with Khadija Baker and Mona Sharma (from Quebec) featuring work that takes an in-depth look at the issues present in Canadian multiculturalism. This is the first Quebec-based event from SAVAC, a Toronto non-profit and artist-run centre devoted exclusively to artists of a Southeast Asian background. Vernissage on April 6 at MAI (3680 Jeanne-Mance) at 3 p.m.

Paris-born artist Chloé Roubert, along with biologist Luc-Alain Giraldeau guide a pack of curious individuals interested (as she is) with all things pigeon related. This curiosity led to “Dirt is Matter Out of Place,” a study of pigeons and their role in an urban space. The walkabout kicks off at Parc du Portugal just off of the main (a notorious hotbed of pigeon activity) and makes it’s way up to Articule, on Fairmount. There, attendees are invited to join in on a panel discussion featuring urbanist Laurent Lussier and pigeon-breeder François Messier. Vernissage on April 7 at Articule (262 Fairmount), 3 p.m. ■

To see more of what’s happening in arts, check out our full listings.