As Mexico’s Festival Cultural de Mayo Guest of Honor, this year, the province of Quebec has elected seven artists for the festival’s recently-opened exhibition, “Candide / Candido.” Specifically, the International Art Manifestation of Quebec (MIAQ) elected the artists for this, one of the largest cultural festivals in Mexico, as invited by the FCM’s director, Sergio Alejandro Matos. The exhibition, curated by Sylvain Campeau, is mainly being held in the city of Guadalajara and in 12 surrounding towns. The artists will occupy the Hospicio Cabañas, a World Heritage building by UNESCO, during the event, and until July 15. 

 The exhibition features the works of artists Doyon-Rivest, Cooke-Sasseville, Jocelyn Robert, Jean-Pierre Gauthier, Jérôme Fortin, Raphaelle de Groot, and Dan Brault. Campeau reflects a certain candor and transparency among the chosen artists, stating that they don’t “present themselves as bearers of a momentum critical deconstruction. On the contrary, these artists generally prefer to marry closer, not to distance and formal trial, the statements they wish to illustrate.”

The general manager and artistic director of the MIAQ, Claude Bélanger, says he's honored to be included. "This opportunity gives a superb showcase for contemporary art in Québec and helps to spread the talent of our artists abroad. I am very proud of what we will present" at the festival, he writes.

In addition to this exhibition, Quebec currently presents the sixth edition of the La Manif d'Art (aka the Quebec City Biennial) in the province capital from May 3 to June 3, 2012. The theme, chosen by the curator Nicole Gingras, is “Machines – the Shapes of Movement,” and brings together 75 artists spread across thirty sites of Quebec and surrounding areas.

ARTINFO Canada will feature a review of the Biennial as well as a curator interview in the weeks to come.