Ottawa, August 21, 2012 – The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ) will acquire a new work by the trio of artists BGL through the Canada Council for the Arts 2012 York Wilson Endowment Award. The gallery, located in Quebec City, will receive $25,000 to purchase Au service de l’impact (hommage à Paul-Émile), a work which offers a hybrid blend of painting and sculpture and represents a major turning point for BGL artists Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière.
“This artwork jumps off the canvas and will be an exciting addition to the collection of the Musée national des beaux‑arts du Québec,” noted Robert Sirman, Canada Council Director and CEO. “It ties young artists of today to an important period in Canadian art history, evoking the memory of Paul-Émile Borduas and his work.”
Each year, the York Wilson Endowment Award is given to an eligible Canadian art museum or public gallery to help it purchase work by a Canadian artist that will significantly enhance its collection. Created in 1997 through a generous donation by Lela Wilson and Maxwell Henderson, it honours the contribution of Canadian painter York Wilson (1907-1984) by encouraging and promoting works of art created by Canadian painters or sculptors. Sarah Fillmore (Halifax), Francine Perinet (Oakville, Ontario) and Daniel Ring (Saskatoon) formed the 2012 peer assessment committee.
Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière founded the BGL Collective when they were students at Laval University. They have been working together for over 10 years, presenting their work in numerous exhibitions organized in Canada, France, Argentina and Cuba. The trio has been among the finalists for the Sobey Art Award and received the Canada Council Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award in 2007. In addition to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, their work has also been acquired by the National Gallery of Canada and the Musée des beaux‑arts de Montréal.
The MNBAQ’s collection is made up of almost 35,000 works dating from the 17th century to today. Its mission is to make known, promote and preserve Quebec art of all periods, as well as to ensure a place for international contemporary art through acquisitions, exhibitions and other cultural activities. Au service de l’impact (hommage à Paul‑Émile) will join other works by BGL acquired in the past. It will also further enrich a collection at MNBAQ devoted to other young artists of the same generation.
The new work will be unveiled at a vernissage at the MNBAQ location in Québec City on Wednesday, October 3, 2012.
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national arts funder. Its grants to artists and organizations contribute to a vibrant arts scene in Canada. Its awards celebrate creativity by recognizing exceptional Canadians in the arts, humanities and sciences. The Canada Council Art Bank is a national collection of over 17,000 Canadian contemporary artworks – all accessible to the public through rental, loan and outreach programs. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO operates under the general authority of the Canada Council.
Mireille Allaire
Public Relations Officer
1-800-263-5588 or
613-566-4414, ext. 4523
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Heather McAfee
Public Relations Officer
1-800-263-5588 or
613-566-4414, ext. 4166
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