L’art qui nous est contemporain

For many years now, in North America and in Europe, contemporary art has been the source of much heated debate, whether questioning its legitimacy, its intelligibility or simply asking “why make it?” in the context of a society driven by economics and information. To date, most of the thinking concerns basic questions such as: What is it for? Who is it for? What does it mean? What makes it possible? Here in Québec, there exists a specific cultural and intellectual environment, structured by its very own traditions, arguments and biases. This essay attempts to cast light, even if only partially and punctually, on certain aspects and requirements of “l’art qui nous est contemporain”.