When curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot asked some people around him if they knew any Quebec visual artists, other than Riopelle and the Group of Seven, nobody could name one single fashion photographer. Despite the fact that some have gone to gain international fame and recognition and whose work has been presented in the most prestigious fashion magazines: Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Esquire… Not to mention a slew of hyper-popular brands that have hired them for advertising campaigns.
That’s when he and the McCord Stewart Museum in Montreal decided to put together ‘Portraits and Fashion, Quebec Photographers Beyond Borders,’ a stunning exhibit featuring 17 established and emerging photographers who were either born in Quebec or immigrated here, and have a brilliant international career and reach.
“When you think that Norman Jean Roy who shoots the cover of Vogue and Vanity Fair basically every month and is not known here, it was time to do something about that,” says Thierry-Maxime on the day the exhibit was presented to the press.
If you’re interested in fashion and are known for seeking out exceptional experiences on the topic, you might already be familiar with the name Thierry-Maxime Loriot, the man behind several memorable exhibitions, including ‘Thierry Mugler: Couturissime’ and ‘The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk,’ both presented at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in recent years and, most recently, the retrospective devoted to the creative duo Victor & Rolf, in Munich.
Oh, and if you’re wondering why Thierry-Maxime is so passionate about fashion, it’s probably because he’s a former international model (one of his first photoshoots was with Kate Moss) who crafted his career with the vision and zeal of an academic; hence, his current occupation as a celebrated international curator.
“I think it’s important to distinguish photography from images. We’re bombarded with images on social media. But when people sit for a portrait it’s the humanistic approach these photographers have in their eye,” emphasizes Thierry-Maxim.
While the first common thread linking the photographers in the exhibition is their strong connection to Quebec, the second is undoubtedly their humanistic approach to their practice, which lies at the heart of their relationship with their models. This sensitivity has allowed them to capture highly emotional moments.
“Max Abadian, who was born in Iran but learned photography at Dawson College and who has shot Lady Gaga, is one of these talents. We really need to put the spotlight on these superstars who are not known from the public, and now they’re celebrated in this exhibition. It’s our legacy in Quebec pop culture,” says Thierry-Maxime.
The photographers whose work is presented are: Max Abadian, William Arcand, Richard Bernardin, Alex Black, Sacha Cohen, Cristina Gareau, Andréanne Gauthier, Royal Gilbert, Shayne Laverdière, Carl Lessard, Monic Richard, Norman Jean Roy, Étienne Saint-Denis, Nelson Simoneau, Oumayma Ben Tanfous, Xavier Tera and villedepluie.
This exhibition, presented by Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, is aimed at a wide audience with a passion for photography, fashion and the world of Quebec, Canadian and international celebrities. The project is accompanied by a catalogue featuring 268 photographs by the 17 photographers.
‘Portraits and Fashion, Quebec Photographers Beyond Borders’ is presented at the McCord Stewart Museum until September 29, 2024.
Featured image: Quebec model Eve Salvail by Nelson Simoneau
Photo 2: Lady Gaga by Max Abadian
Photo 3: Event photo by Fashion Beauty Runway
Photo 4: Exhibit Curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot by Max Abadian
