Bonjour Chien, d’ici et d’ailleurs

Seen through the eyes of illustrator Chien Champion, Montreal is a colourful, vibrant, cartoonish place on the border of reality and fantasy. Through Chien – an inquisitive, sensitive, ever-changing character – the artist crafts a story inspired by his life in Montreal and his family history, resulting in a sensitive journey through the Quartier des Spectacles and the downtown core.

At the heart of this story is a bag that accompanies the character. A symbol of migration and memory, it carries within it origins, journeys and stories. It serves as a reminder that, even when we’re on the move, we never truly stop carrying multiple versions of ourselves.

Comprising several installations, Bonjour Chien, d’ici et d’ailleurs follows a path punctuated by arrivals, games, learning and memories. Each stop explores a different way of living in the city and finding one’s place. The sculptures, installations and video projections either follow or respond to each other, using a rich and energetic hybrid visual language.