November 9th, 2011
Artistic Explosion
The term “Big Bang” is usually used in the context of a theory describing the creation of the universe. To sum up and oversimplify, a hot, dense state caused a rapid expansion of the universe bringing us to where we are now.
The Museum of Fine Arts latest free exhibition, Big Bang, offers an explosion of artistic creativity, merging culture, time and genre to create a universe of possibility. Twenty of Montreal’s most renowned artists, including Denys Arcand, Melissa Auf Der Mar, Renata Morales and Wajdi Mouawad, were given carte blanche to create an installation inspired by a piece from the museum’s permanent collection. The result? Past meets present in an enthralling interplay between classic and modern, movement and stillness, darkness and light, formality and approachability. Our personal favourite was the room filled with mural art by the En Masse Collective, complete with bean bag chairs for a more laid-back museum experience.
Kaboom! —Jennifer Nachshen
Until January 22, 2012 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-285-2000, www.mbam.qc.ca
