Au-delà des Cartes Postales

Au-delà des Cartes Postales : Errance Pixelisée” exhibition: between authenticity and saturation

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About Alliance Française de Montréal
Imagine a natural landscape you know well… now imagine it invaded by hundreds of tourists, all captured in a single photograph.

In the age of social networks, which are profoundly transforming the way we travel, the AFMTL, in collaboration with the Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles à Québec, presents the exhibition Au-delà des Cartes Postales : Errance Pixelisée. Running from April 21 to May 12, the exhibition features the work of Belgian artist Natacha de Mahieu, who examines the impact of contemporary tourism on landscapes and our experience of travel.

Using geolocation data from Instagram, Natacha de Mahieu has selected some of Europe’s most popular natural sites and superimposed several photos taken in the same place at different times. This process transforms seemingly peaceful landscapes into scenes of massive frequentation, offering a reflection on overtourism, the impact of social networks and the consequences of our travel practices on the environment.

The exhibition consists of two photographic series that question travel and the human presence in natural landscapes:

Théâtre de l'Authenticité

This series explores the quest for "authentic" experiences shaped by social networks. The artist highlights the way in which travelers, in search of unique moments, find themselves in the same environments and reproduce behaviors similar to those of thousands of other travelers. The series thus questions new tourism norms, showing how our online lives influence the way we experience the real world.

Unknown Lands

This series highlights the tension between the beauty of landscapes and the human presence induced by tourism. From emblematic European destinations to far-flung locales, Natacha de Mahieu asks: are we simply seeking to feed our curiosity, or are we chasing the virtual "rewards" of perfect shots posted on social networks? Terres Inconnues transforms these landscapes into scenes where tourist overcrowding and digital norms verge on the absurd, revealing the impact of social networks on our travel experience.

On the borderline between documentation and social criticism, Natacha de Mahieu questions the way we travel: do we seek the experience or the image? Live a moment or reproduce it for social networks?

The exhibition invites us to rethink our practices and envisage a more conscious and sustainable relationship with the territories through which we pass.

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with and with the support of the Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles à Québec.

  • April 21 to May 12
  • At the Espace culturel of the Alliance Française de Montréal
  • 317 Place d’Youville, Montreal
  • During AFMTL opening hours

Credits

Original idea: Consulat général de France à Québec
Partner: Fonds de recherche du Québec
Produced by: Festival BD de Montréa
Curator and graphic designer: Manon Jousse
Copywriting, photos and videos: Communication department

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