Pierre Tremblay exhibits ‘Art is Like a Game’ at InterAccess Gallery

Image Arts Professor and alum Pierre Tremblay exhibited Art is Like a Game, a captivating 40-year retrospective of his artist portraits in an immersive multimedia installation. The exhibit, held at InterAccess Gallery in Toronto, intertwines Tremblay’s artistic journey with his contributions to the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) community.

From 1984 to 2024: Four Decades of Portraits

The retrospective begins with Tremblay’s early portrait work as an undergraduate student, showcasing his colour slide portraits from the 1980s. These early pictures capture the essence of his subjects and set the foundation for his future projects. The installation then transitions into “Portraits in a Sentence” from the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

“That project involved more than 100 short films that I have presented around the world in multi-channel video installations,” says Tremblay.

Reviving Retro Technology and Work

The exhibit culminates with Tremblay’s recent and more extensive works,such as “Walks with Artists”. Created as teaching material for his Image Arts classes, this project has been shown around the world at events like the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA).

An intriguing aspect of the exhibition is the use of 360-immersive technology and programming, brought to life through dozens of old televisions Tremblay accumulated over the years. Art is Like a Game marks the last show with these TV sets, which Tremblay has been donating to TMU students and colleagues for thesis pieces and exhibits around campus.

Homage to the Community 

The concept for the exhibit came from a former student, Samantha Rajasingham, who quoted Canadian artist Michael Snow saying, “art is like a game.” This idea became the central theme of the exhibit,reflecting the playful yet introspective nature of Tremblay’s work.

“Making the portraits relevant in a 360 immersive space would not have been possible without the help of Curator Minwoo Lee (former TMU colleague) and lead visual creator Julia Zolota (my former student and recent award-winning graduate),” remarks Tremblay. Their collaborative efforts involved extensive discussions, careful selection, and creative experimentation.

Art is Like a Game stands as a testament to Tremblay’s enduring impact on the world of immersive media and his dedication to fostering creativity and innovation within the TMU community.