La chambre des échos. Unvarnished Veneer is presented in the Salle de Nantes at the Château Ramezay. Conservation and showcasing of the decorative arts in Montreal, notably the reconstruction of period rooms, were made possible thanks to the substantial support of Canadian art patrons and philanthropists David M. Stewart and Liliane Stewart. The artist’s intervention traces this little-known historical aspect as well as the origins of the heritage wood panelling in the Salle de Nantes, which was exhibited in the French pavilion at Expo 67 before being donated to the Château Ramezay. It originally came from the Hôtel O’Riordan, constructed in Nantes between 1742 and 1746 for the shipowner Étienne O’Riordan. The installation is based around a soundtrack that takes a critical, postcolonial perspective in relating various historical, economic and political narratives relating to the past of this decorative-arts ensemble.

Installation presented in the Salle de Nantes at the Château Ramezay, Montreal, June 13 to July 26, 2019