The Arts and Queer Representation: A Tool for Agency

To mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, the McCord Museum, in partnership with Ubisoft and Les 3 sex*, invites you to a conversation about the arts and queer representation as a tool for agency.

This initiative, presented alongside the exhibition JJ Levine: Queer Photographs, is a chance to reflect on the role that artworks play in shaping queer imagination, expanding the social use of art for sexually and gender-diverse people, and exploring the artistic and creative possibilities for fighting homophobia and transphobia.

Moderated by Estelle Cazelais from Les 3 sex*, this panel brings together three speakers who will explore this topic through the lens of their respective art worlds, namely photography, video games and film.

Lecture, in French, followed by a discussion period in French and English with the audience.

Speakers

JJ Levine, Artist
Simon Ducharme, Narrative writer, Ubisoft
Laurent Maurice Lafontant, President, Massimadi Foundation, and Coordinator, Festival Massimadi

Information

Free activity, in French, presented on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 6 p.m. Duration: 90 minutes
The event will be held at the Museum and will also be broadcast live on Zoom and on the Museum’s Facebook page.
Online or at the Museum? Choose how you wish to participate and register today!

Attend the virtual event

Zoom Registration • Facebook Event

Attend in person

Limited seating, reservations required.
Location: J. Armand Bombardier Theatre at the McCord Museum
Billetterie Weezevent

Speaker Biographies

Estelle Cazelais

Estelle Cazelais (she/they) has been working as a sexologist since September 2015. She is especially interested in feminist struggles as well as notions of sexual and gender diversity. For several years now, they have dedicated their work to understanding the social and psychological impacts of gender stereotypes in human development, promoting the rights and recognition of sexually and gender-diverse people, teaching sexual consent, and combatting sexual violence.

JJ Levine

JJ Levine is an images-based artist living and working in Tiohti:áke/Montreal known for his compelling body of work in portraiture. Levine holds a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from Concordia University. He is currently represented by ELLEPHANT Gallery (Montreal), and his work has been exhibited at museums, galleries, and art festivals in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, as well as numerous European countries. His artwork and writing have been published in academic journals, including Photography and Culture (UK). Levine’s images have also been featured in art magazines and newspapers internationally, such as CV Photo (Canada), Esse (Canada), Slate (US), The Guardian Observer (UK and US), and Society (France). Levine was a finalist for the Prix Découverte Louis Roederer in 2019 at the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival (France). In 2015, Levine self-published two artist books: Queer Portraits: 2006-2015 and Switch. Levine’s artistic practice balances a radical queer agenda with a strong formal aesthetic.

Simon Ducharme

Simon Ducharme (he/they) is a Quebecer and long-time fan of video games who got their start in the gaming industry as a tester. They have now been a narrative writer with Ubisoft Montreal for almost two years. During this time, they were able to apply their passion for queer identity, resulting in two playable LGBTQ+ characters in the game Rainbow Six Siege, namely Flores and Osa. They have been interviewed several times to talk about representation in video games.

Laurent Maurice Lafontant

Laurent Maurice Lafontant is president of the Massimadi Foundation and coordinator of the Massimadi Festival. Massimadi presents films, documentaries and web-series on LGBTQ+ themes starring members of Black communities. Massimadi is a space where artists and activists address issues affecting Black communities in round tables and public discussions. The festival is also a platform to introduce local artistic talent and share Afro LGBTQ+ culture through the arts. The Massimadi Foundation’s mission is to promote the arts and culture of Black LGBTQ+ communities as a vector for social change in the fight against homophobia and transphobia, and as a means of integration for Afro LGBTQ+ individuals.