STREETS OF COLOURS - July 5 - 19, 2016

 Paul Jolicoeur 

Opening Reception: July 7th, 6pm - 8pm

Arta Gallery is proud to be hosting a solo exhibition by Canadian Street Photographer, Paul Jolicoeur.

Originally from Montreal and currently residing in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec, Paul Jolicoeur has been at the forefront of fine art photography and digital graphics for over 20 years. The pieces featured in Streets of Colour can be seen as his contribution and way of honoring the beauty of Senegal after living there for 5 years.

It was on his first trip to the country’s Northwest region, near the Atlantic Ocean that he discovered the enormous potential offered by the vibrant culture of St. Louis – a city that sits near the mouth of the Senegal River, approximately 320 km outside of the capital of Dakar. Having served as the capital of the French Colony of Senegal (1673 – 1902), the modern-day St. Louis is known for its vast urban culture and fishing quarter, Guet Ndar. This aspect of everyday life became Jolicoeur’s primary source of inspiration.

By travelling between different neighborhoods and allowing for uncontrollable shooting conditions to dictate his practice, Jolicoeur was able to capture spontaneous moments in which the rich, urban landscape of St. Louis became coupled with the unique character of its inhabitants.

Having spent 5 years studying and capturing the identity of St. Louis, the artist felt that in order to conclude this chapter in his creative pursuits, he had to return what his lens had ultimately taken from the local community. As a result, the first exhibition of the series featured in Streets of Colour was held in the heart of Guet Ndar.

To find out more about Paul Jolicoeur’s first exhibition in Senegal and to get a small preview of the work that we will be featuring, please check out: http://youtu.be/eCFcjXG_wQA.