Tag: Hélène Lefebvre

Canada

Hélène Lefebvre’s practice is an inquiry into identity and alterity, all the while weaving links between visual art, culture, and society. The body in movement and sensorial active listening (epicenter of performance action) have been a sustained interest of hers for over ten years. Recently, her work has taken the form of performance, installation and video. Her practice in corporeality takes inspiration from studies in visual art, contemporary dance, and authentic movement, a form in which improvisation is central. The richness of performance art resides in the search for the other, their humanness, an identity that appears to be different than one’s own. This meeting gives the impression of coming out of oneself while also offering a better grasp of who we are exactly.

Hélène has presented her work at a number of exhibitions and performances in Canada (Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia), Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. She has received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa.

The pandemic postponed many activities. Earlier this year, I was limited to circulating in my local Ottawa neighbourhood, as well as my backyard, which became the sight of my auto-residence; my investigative space. This led me to (re)evaluate the notion of disorientation. Thus, my shadow became a measuring tool, an extension of self, a sensing body enabling discovery.

The danger is invisible; using my intuition I would like to give it a name. If I can identify it, then I can articulate it, open it up, present it and share it. To reach this point of understanding—to identify the object of my intuitive obsession—this was my starting point: non-defensive conscious-raising, definitely the potential of the imaginary.

Thus, I explored my neighbourhood with the help of my shadow, faithful companion heretofore ignored. To evaluate, maybe (re)establish contact, guided by its potential contours. My perception defining a renewed space. My imagination, in a sensorial quest of the site, found itself nourished by connections, memories, awareness and realities. As a result, I discovered a close connection to nature.