Conference

Hyperrealism. This Is Not a Lecture

Lecture by curator Bernard Lamarche in the Auditorium

Through an exploration of striking works, see how representations of the human body are constantly evolving. Hosted by exhibition curator Caroline Lantagne and conservator Bernard Lamarche, the presentation will explore the themes addressed by the artists, such as childhood, old age, solitude, the passage of time, and death.

It will also look at the outstanding contributions of such key figures of hyperrealism as Duane Hanson, Ron Mueck, and Maurizio Cattelan.

Last but not least, special attention will be paid to Québec artists, who feature prominently in the exhibition for their work exploring the expressive possibilities of the hyperrealistic body.

Caroline Lantagne has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history from Université Laval and has been curating exhibitions at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec since 2025. Prior to joining the MNBAQ team, she held the position of Exhibition Project Manager at the Musée de la civilisation in Québec from 2011. She completed numerous projects there, including the permanent exhibition This is Our Story. First Nations and Inuit in the 21st Century, which won the 2014 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums: History Alive! More recently, she curated the 2023-2024 exhibition Love Me Gender, which won the Prix d’excellence from the Société des musées du Québec and the Janette-Bertrand Award from Fondation Émergence, which recognizes significant contributions to the fight against homophobia and transphobia.

  • Caroline Lantagne, Exhibition Curator at MNBAQ

Bernard Lamarche is a Québec art historian recognized for his expertise in contemporary art. Since 2012, he has held the position of Curator of Contemporary Art at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. In 2023, his responsibilities were expanded to include the period of contemporary art from 1960 to the present day. He holds a Master’s degree from the Université de Montréal, where he wrote his thesis on the work of Marcel Duchamp.

Before joining the MNBAQ, Bernard Lamarche served as Curator of Contemporary Art at the Musée régional de Rimouski from 2005 to 2012, and as an art critic and cultural journalist for the daily newspaper Le Devoir from 1996 to 2005.

Over the course of his career, he has also curated numerous exhibitions, including Les matins infidèles. L’art du protocole (2013) and the recent retrospective Evergon. Théâtres de l’intime. In addition, he has authored several exhibition catalogues and articles for specialized journals, contributing to the promotion and recognition of contemporary art in Québec.

  • Bernard Lamarche Curator of Contemporary Art at the MNBAQ (1960 to present)

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