COOKE-SASSEVILLE : AGAINST ALL ODDS

From February 28 to April 20, 2025, Manif d'art will present an exhibition at Espace Quatre Cents by the renowned artist-duo Cooke-Sasseville to mark the 25th anniversary of their career.

Against All ODDS

Curated by Julia Caron Guillemette

Irreverent since the year 2000, Cooke-Sasseville has been known for making artworks that blend absurdity and wonder with a touch of dark humour. Embodying the figure of the two-headed narrator, the duo creates works that are like freeze-frames, and invite us to build their stories along with them. Seductive, their works lure us in with their aesthetic and their nod to pop culture. But once they’ve captivated us, they surprise us at the next turn.

The verdant tree carries dynamite instead of fruit. The hunter points his rifle at his own reflection in the mirror. Because beyond their reputation as jokesters, Cooke-Sasseville remain staunch critics. And they invite us to reflect on some of the mechanisms of our society, sometimes against all odds.

Curator's biography

PROGRAM

To mark the 25th anniversary of Cooke-Sasseville's career, curator Julia Caron Guillemette is inviting us to attend an exhibition on two floors of Espace Quatre Cents. The exhibition will bring together roughly twenty works that are the essence of Cooke-Sasseville.

Drawing on the artists' gift for storytelling, the exhibition will be divided into four sections: (1) Building a Narrative; (2) Storytelling in the Public Space ; (3) Redirecting History ; (4) The Salon of Memories.

COOKE-SASSEVILLE

Comprised of Jean-François Cooke and Pierre Sasseville, Cooke-Sasseville have been active on the visual arts scene for twenty-five years. Deliberately paradoxical, their work confronts viewers with ambiguous scenarios where social critique is delivered in amusing ways. They have been featured in over twenty solo exhibitions and many group shows throughout Canada and internationally, and have produced more than forty public artworks in cities across Québec and Canada. Their work has won several awards, notably the Public Art category of the 2018 Architectural Merit Prize from the City of Québec, and is included in numerous collections, including those of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and the Musée de la civilisation.

More about Cooke-Sasseville

Cooke-Sasseville
Discover some of the Cooke-Sasseville duo's work on their website and social media.

simultaneously, at Espace Quatre Cents...

The Winter Garden : Echoing Tales

From February 28 to April 20, Espace Quatre Cents will be hosting the main exhibition of the fourth edition of Winter Garden. One floor will be dedicated to the works of five artists in the program.
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