Papier is Montreal's biggest — and hippest — art fair, by far – Montreal Gazette

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“It’s easy to be intimidated by contemporary art,” said Karine Vanasse , “but hopefully that barrier is going away. We need new art lovers.”

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The Quebec actress is a spokesperson for the 14th edition of Papier, which runs Friday to Sunday at the Grand Quai in Montreal’s Old Port. With 35 galleries showing works by about 400 artists, it’s the city’s biggest art fair by far, not to mention the hippest art happening of the year, every year. From high-end collectors to casual perusers, gallerists and established and up-and-coming artists, it is the convergence point for a who’s who of Montreal’s art world.

“It’s really important for Montreal, but also for Quebec and Canada,” said Antoine Ertaskiran, co-owner of the Bradley Ertaskiran gallery and vice-president of the board of the Association des galleries d’art contemporain, the Canadian non-profit organization that puts on Papier.

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Initially created as an alternative to the spotlight-hogging Art Toronto fair, Papier has become an essential meeting point for galleries here to foster an identity all their own.

“Pre-pandemic, there were collectors and curators coming from all over Canada to Montreal for the fair,” Ertaskiran said. “It’s very important for galleries to showcase artists, meet clients, and for the vibrancy of the arts scene in Quebec.”

As its name suggests, Papier’s claim to fame is showcasing works on paper. It’s a unique calling card that once made the event stand out from the crowd (and kept prices affordable), but that is changing with the times.

“The goal of Papier was to be a different kind of fair, so we chose one medium,” Ertaskiran said. “It could have been photography. Over the past two years, we have opened up to other mediums.”

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The fair’s parameters suggest that galleries show at least 50 per cent works on paper. Ertaskiran believes the fair may one day do away with the requirement entirely.

“I think that will be the evolution of Papier,” he said. “I think Montreal is mature enough to have a real, full-fledged art fair — a bigger fair. We have great sponsors already, who I’m sure would be on board. Time will tell.”

With more than 16,000 visitors annually, Papier is already a big deal. Ertaskiran sees the fair as a gateway to getting Montrealers interested in visiting the city’s art galleries year-round.

“It should not just be one moment of the year,” he said. “We want people to come to our galleries on a regular basis. With Papier, we’re reminding people once a year, with a big event, that contemporary art exists, galleries exist.”

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For Vanasse, Papier’s appeal is all about opening the art world to everyone.

“It’s the fair atmosphere,” she said. “It’s contemporary art, but there’s something very festive and accessible about it, with the mix of knowledgeable collectors who come knowing they have access to specific artists, who are going through the fair next to someone who might be visiting an art fair for the first time in their life. That mix is very interesting.”

Papier is even more enticing this year, after last year’s event was forced to go all-virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This edition takes place in a hybrid format, offering both in-person and online options.

Among the attractions is Papier’s series of educational talks, including The Uncollectible: Working With the Ephemeral Outside the Museum Walls (Friday at noon); Jean-Paul Riopelle: His Global and Contemporary Legacy (Friday at 2 p.m.); and Emergence/Transition: The Bronfman Fellows in Contemporary Art, a conversation with the 2020 and 2021 winners of the Claudine and Stephen Bronfman Fellowship in Contemporary Art, hosted by Eunice Bélidor , the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ curator of Quebec and Canadian contemporary art, Saturday at noon.

AT A GLANCE

Papier runs Friday, Nov. 26 to Sunday, Nov. 28 at the Grand Quai in the Old Port. For tickets and more information, visit papiermontreal.com.

tdunlevy@postmedia.com

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