Projects

From commissioning

Burbs to Banlieues

Burbs to Banlieues

Burbs to Banlieues is a Franco-Canadian multi-year project that takes place in the suburbs of Paris and Toronto. It explores links and differences between territories marked by layers of histories and dreams, in geographies where significant colonial histories and current immigration come into play. The project offers artists based in Canada and in France a context to develop new artworks in the other country. Their works will result from a series of residencies.

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On The Road

ON THE ROAD

*Project cancelled for lack of temporary Canadian visa*

See substitute project produced in Cuba in the Fall 2016: Indian Summer Diary: I love Canada, Canada, love me!

From Cuba to Canada and the USA

Artist residency - Summer/Fall 2016: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara

Curated by: Catherine Sicot

The Call by Olivier Bosson (Facing: the stories of others. 2017/18/19)

Casting in Markham 2017

Film project based in Makham (Ontario, Canada)

Hors Pistes, Centre Pompidou, Paris - January 24 and 27, 2018 (Facing: The story of Others)

Otro Tratado Phiphi

Hors Pistes (Centre Pompidou) and Elegoa Cultural Productions present:

Presentation/performance by Wanda Nanibush,
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Yanelys Nunez Leyva

January 24 and 27 at Le Centre Pompidou (Paris)

Tout-Monde: Markham - Call for Proposals

Elegoa Cultural Productions and the Varley Art Gallery of Markham present:
The commission of 6 projects to Toronto and GTA filmmakers and visual artists to be presented in an exhibition
in the fall of 2019. Deadline for proposals: November 9, 2018 

Elegoa call for proposals

Photo credits: City of Markham

 

Tout-Monde: Markham

Varley Art Gallery of Markham
September 14, 2019 – January 5, 2020 | Main Gallery

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White Elephant by Andrew Chung

     Photo: On set of Andrew Chung’s White Elephant. 2019. Photo by Ifenna Okeke. Courtesy of the artist.
 

Artists: Andrew Chung, Annette Mangaard, Julieta Maria, Calyx Passailaigue,
              Roberto Santaguida, Alice Shin
Curated by Catherine Sicot and Anik Glaude

Tout-Monde: Markham seeks to engage with the delicate, yet timely, discourse about encountering and representing the other. The project is inspired by the ideas of Martiniquais poet and philosopher Edouard Glissant (1928 – 2011). Building on his in-depth explorations of the history of slavery, and of créolisation, Glissant imagined le Tout-Monde (“the whole-world”) where “relationships between two or more identities that are masters to themselves, would rely on changing by exchanging”.

With its diverse communities, Markham offers an interesting context within which to explore Glissant’s ideas. Six artists working with film were commissioned to engage with community members from backgrounds different from their own, thus stimulating the exploration of various means of perception and interaction with others. Ultimately, this project aims to generate a series of personal or collective encounters between artists and communities, as well as between neighbours, between friends and between strangers.

The artworks presented in the exhibition Tout-Monde: Markham are commissioned by Elegoa Cultural Productions and is part of the multi-layered project Facing: The Stories of Others (an exploration of nations from the "outside-in") curated by Catherine Sicot, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, New Chapter Program, in partnership with the Varley Art Gallery of Markham, and made with the support of the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT). 

Join us at the opening of Tout-Monde: Markham! The night will feature an engaging panel discussion, performances, refreshments and more! Panel discussion will occur from 6 – 7 p.m and the reception will be 7-9 p.m. Please RSVP as limited spots are available.


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White Elephant by Andrew Chung

    Photos: On set of Andrew Chung’s White Elephant. 2019. Photos by Ifenna Okeke. Courtesy of the artist.


    http://thisisandrewc.com


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Come Into My Kitchen by Annette Mangaard

   Photos: Annette Mangaard, Come Into My Kitchen - Helen's Kitchen (above), Jennifer's Kitchen (below), 2019,
                  still from 4K video, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.


"As immigrants to Canada from Denmark my family initially camped not far from the Varley Art Gallery and later settled in Scarborough. I recall on my way to school tossing my mother’s carefully prepared open-faced smørrebrød (sandwich) consisting of liverwurst and sliced pickles on dark rye bread. I looked longingly at the Wonderbread and peanut butter consumed by the other children.” Annette Mangaard, filmmaker of Come Into My Kitchen. 
www.annettemangaard.com
 

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Redbird by Julieta Maria

    Photos: Julieta Maria, Redbird, 2019. Film still. Courtesy of the artist.

    www.julietamaria.com

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Zeen? by Calyx Passailaigue

    Photos: Calyx Passailaigue, Zeen?, 2019, Short Film. Courtesy of the artist.


“Zeen?" is a Caribbean patois word originated from Jamaica, meaning “do you understand?” Or, more casually, “Do you get me?” - Calyx Passailaigue, director and co-producer of Zeen?, 2019.
Script co-written with Richard Walters.
Calyx Passailaigue

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West of Greensborough by Roberto Santaguida

      Photos: Roberto Santaguida, West of Greensborough, 2019, Production Still, screen 3. Courtesy of the artist.


"West of Greensborough is informed by methods of coping, the thought isometrics that ease pain and the disquiet of the mind." - Roberto Santaguida.
 

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Signal Fire by Alice Shin

   
    Photos: On set of Alice Shin's, Signal Fire, 2019. 


“I strive to create films focusing on Asian storytelling where unspoken encounters and actions take over dialogues. ‘Signal Fire’ explores how non-verbal communications and actions prompt change between people.” – Alice Shin, director and co-producer of Signal Fire, 2019.
Co-produced with Eiko Brown.
http://aliceshin.com

 

From Glissant Unfixed and Unbounded

An event presented by Elegoa Cultural Productions and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto

December 5, 6 and 7, 2019. 

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Edouard Glissant en 1997, photo by Jean-Christian Bourcart.

Photo: Edouard Glissant en 1997 (in 1997) in New York City by © Jean-Christian Bourcart

 

Curators Pamela Edmonds, Wanda Nanibush and Catherine Sicot joined forces to create the event From Glissant: Unfixed and Unbounded in Toronto on December 5, 6 and 7, 2019 at the AGO.
 

This international event attempts to unfix and unbound current thinking around Identity by exploring poet-philosopher Édouard Glissant' s alternative: Relation. Building on Toronto's current political and artistic dynamics, this event sets in motion relational poetics between local and international participants who together explore the potential of art to engage in the assertion of identities, its consequences on respect and the sharing of land and resources. The event proposes to enact Glissant's concept of “Le Tout-Monde" (Whole-World or One World) in order to allow new imaginaries to flow.
 

The format of the event evokes Glissant’s multifaceted sensibility by combining experimental films, choreographed readings, sound and music pieces, interactive games, theoretical responses and discussions.  

Participants and/or works by:

Gabriel Beck, Nichola Feldman-Kiss, Manthia Diawara, DJ Grumps, John Greyson, Rosemary Heather, Nasrin Himada, Moridja Kitenge Banza, Olivia McGilchrist, Katherine McKittrick, Rea McNamara, Sukaina Kubba and Craig Mulholland, Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier, Joiri Minaya, Esery Mondésir, Darlene Naponse, Rehab Nazzal, Public Studio, Ronald Rose-Antoinette, Larissa Sansour, John Ralston Saul, charles c. smith, Bojana Stancic, Adrian Stimson, Swapnaa Tamhane, Eve Tuck, Rinaldo Walcott, the public and other guests to be confirmed.

 

Tickets are $5 -$25 CAD.
Eventbrite's processing fee applies to tickets upon purchase.

 

SEE FULL SCHEDULE BELOW

 

Additionally, Miho Hatori will perform Salon Mondialité, programmed in conjunction with the event by the Art Gallery of Ontario at 8:00pm on December 6 and 7. Contact AGO for separate Tickets to this event.

 

TO REGISTER:

To register/buy tickets, $25 for the full 3-Day event, click here.

To register/buy tickets, $5 for Day 1 - Thursday December 5, click here

To register/buy tickets, $10 for DAY 2 - Friday December 6, click here

To register/buy tickets, $10 for Day 3 - Saturday December 7, click here

 

For additional information contact Astrid Ho, Event/Program Coordinator of Elegoa Cultural Productions at astrid.ho@elegoa.com.

The AGO is Wheelchair Accessible.

The Art Square Café and Gallery is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact us before November 25 so that we can help people in need of assistance with entering the space.

 

From Glissant Unfixed and Unbounded – SCHEDULE
 

DAY 1 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 - 6:00 to 10:00 pm onwards

(Jackman Hall and Art Square Café and Gallery)

From Creolization to Rhizomatic Identities

Opening remarks

PART 1 - Édouard Glissant and Gérald Vizenor

Films by Manthia Diawara (on Édouard Glissant), and by Wanda Nanibush (on Gérald Vizenor - filmed with Darlene Naponse)

PART 2 - From Creolization to Rhizomatic Identities

In conversation - Wanda Nanibush with Darlene Naponse, Ronald Rose-Antoinette, Eve Tuck and Rinaldo Walcott

PART 3 - Listening to Le Tout-Monde

Drinks and music program by DJ Grumps. DJ Grumps' program is inspired by Édouard Glissant’s research and love of music. Program hosted at Art Square Café and Gallery, (this is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact us before November 25 to discuss options to help access), across the street from the AGO.
 

DAY 2 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
(Jackman Hall and AGO South Entrance)
Chaotic Conversations
PART 1 - Chaos-Opera
In tribute to Glissant’s Chaos-Operas, poetry and sound mix of languages staged by Bojana Stancic with Nichola Feldman-Kiss, charles c.smith, Moridja Kitenge Banza and others to be confirmed.
Reading by John Ralston Saul
PART 2 - Ocean: Migrations to Chaos
Films and sound piece by Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier, Joiri Minaya, Sukaina Kuba and Craig Mulholland
Response by Rinaldo Walcott
Lunch break
PART 3 - Chaos to Opacities
Films and performative readings by Esery Mondésir, Ronald Rose-Antoinette, Swapnaa Tamhane
PART 4 - Chaotic Conversations
A conversation moderated by Pamela Edmonds and Makesense (Interactive game by Gabriel Beck) with, Sukaina Kuba, Esery Mondésir and members of the public.

DAY 3 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7- 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
(Jackman Hall and AGO South Entrance)
Land and Future(s)
Opening performance by Adrian Stimson
PART 1- Land and Future(s)
Films and responses by Rehab Nazzal, Public Studio, John Greyson
Lunch break
Larissa Sansour, Nasrin Himada, Olivia McGilchrist, Moridja Kitenge Banza
Presentation by Katherine McKittrick
PART 2- L’échiqueté
Altered chess game via Skype by/with authors Olive Martin and Patrick Bernier
PART 3 - Future Land(s)?
In conversation with Rehab Nazzal, John Greyson, Moridja Kitenge Banza
PART 4 - Closing

Program will be further updated

Present: Past/Future by artist Ed Pien

Participant Santos Cabrera González

 

Ongoing since 2014 in San Agustín, La Lisa, Cuba.

 

Project commission, co-production and representation.

 

Video and installation based social practice project involving regular encounters between the artist and 13 elderly people from San Agustin, a suburb of Havana.

 

Eva and Ed

 

Rencontres décoloniales à la Rochelle - Histoires et identités autochtones (Chapitre 1)

Musee du Nouveau Monde

Turtle Island / Canada / France Phase 1: Residency for research/professional meetings from 9th to 28th January 2023

Project curator, co-producer and representation - Catherine Sicot- at the invitation of the Centre Intermondes - Ethnopôle Humanités Océanes (La Rochelle)
 

Multi-disciplinary project France/Canada engaging collaboration between contemporary Indigenous artists, curators, researchers, Indigenous and Canadian scholars and teachers and their counterparts in La Rochelle.

La Primavera del Amor

Elegoa Cultural Productions and Programme Hors-Pistes (Centre Pompidou)

Commissioning, artistic direction and co-production

Cuban and international partners and funders (see list below)

Project

La Primavera del Amor is a platform for artistic development and production, international and local networking, and community outreach in Havana and suburbs curated by Catherine Sicot launched in the spring of 2014.

Instituto de Invierno (The Winter Institute)

January 3 to February 28, 2015
San Agustín, La Lisa (Havana, Cuba)
A 2-month workshop and lecture series culminating in a series of public performances

MAC/SAN (Museo de arte contemporaneo de San Agustin, Cuba)

MAC/SAN 

The project MAC/SAN is a prototype dedicated to contemporary art practices in the public realm, a two-week ephemeral museum that featured 11 site-specific artworks and projects—most of them participatory—by Cuban and international artists. 

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I love Canada, Canada, Love me! : Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara (La Primavera del amor 2016)

A 10 day Canadian visa sublimation project on Facebook (a travel in Canada.... filmed in Havana), with it ups and downs........

I love Canada, Canada, love me! (Indian Summer Diary): 
Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara's trip to Canada. 
September 28/October 9, 2016

Journal de bord d'un été indien : Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara (La Primavera del amor 2016)

10 jours de projet sur Facebook, pour sublimer un refus de visa d'entrée au Canada (un voyage au Canada... filmé à La Havane), avec ses hauts et ses bas...

Indian Summer Diary: I love Canada, Canada, love me! 
Le voyage de Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara au Canada. 
28 Septembre / 9 Octobre 2016

Staging Residence

Staging Residence

Staging Residence is a youth-theater-based project that unfolds over two years and involves youth groups across Ontario in exploring social justice through theatre. It deals with issues of territory and identity. The geographical focus is on marginalized communities and remote territories in the Georgian Bay area. The artistic team is developing and currently includes theater director Serge Sàndor. The conceptualization of the project also benefited from the contribution of theater director Jennifer H. Capraru.

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