In Praise of the Missing Image: an exhibition co-presented by the MAC and MOMENTA as part of the 19th edition of the Biennale d’art contemporain

The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) is co-presenting with MOMENTA the central exhibition of the 19th edition of the Biennale d’art contemporain, In Praise of the Missing Image, in its temporary space at Place Ville Marie from September 11, 2025, to March 8, 2026. Curated by guest curator Marie-Ann Yemsi, this exhibition brings together works by artists Iván Argote, Maureen Gruben, Joyce Joumaa, Niap, Lee Shulman + Omar Victor Diop — The Anonymous Project, and Sanaz Sohrabi.

In a world saturated with images, some, strangely, are lacking. Through a variety of media such as photography, sculpture, installation, and video, the works presented at the MAC are centred on colonialism and its various symbolic ramifications, notably historical monuments, sport, extractivism, and the climate crisis. In Praise of the Missing Image explores both contemporary challenges in relation to the image and the current consequences of the complex dynamics involved in constructing narratives. In this context, which stories are told, how, and by whom?

A mural in motion

Works from the series River Water by multidisciplinary Inuk artist Niap will be reproduced in the corridor adjacent to the MAC at Place Ville Marie. These abstract landscape watercolours were originally created using water from various Nunavik rivers; each work thus contains traces of its place of origin, deeply rooted in Niap’s personal history.

“The MAC is pleased to partner with MOMENTA to present the 19th edition of the Biennale d’art contemporain. The long-standing collaboration between our two institutions demonstrates our shared commitment to providing a unique showcase for contemporary art and highlighting artists from here and abroad. With this exhibition, even during a period of transformation, the MAC continues to strengthen its ties with the artistic community and reaffirms its essential role in Montreal’s cultural landscape.”
− Stéphan La Roche, Director of the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC)

“MOMENTA is immensely proud of this collaboration with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC), which is acting as headquarters for the 19th edition of MOMENTA Biennale d’art contemporain. The MAC’s hosting of six national and international artists is a major sign of recognition. We hope that this relationship will continue, strengthening our mutual commitment to the promotion of art and its creators.”
– Dominique Sirois-Rouleau, Executive Director of MOMENTA Biennale d’art contemporain

“Through the unruly material of art, In Praise of the Missing Image invites us to imagine collectively the means, political and poetic, by which we may inhabit the impasses of the present and sketch out ways towards the future.”
 – Marie-Ann Yemsi, guest curator

 Activities related to the exhibition

Alongside this exhibition, the MAC will be rolling out a major program of cultural activities and creative workshops until the beginning of March 2026.

 Exhibition Walkthroughs

• Visit the exhibition on Friday, September 12, at 5:30 p.m. Lee Shulman + Omar Victor Diop – The Anonymous Project, exhibition artists and Marie-Ann Yemsi, guest curator (in French) – Registration
• Visit the mural on Wednesday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m. with Niap, the mural’s artist (in French) – Registration
• Visit the exhibition on Wednesday, November 19, at 5:30 pm. with Sanaz Sohrabi, exhibition artist and assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Concordia University (in English) – Registration

Viewpoints

Five speakers will offer their take on the exhibition and the works presented (registration required):

• Julia Eilers Smith: research curator at the Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery at Concordia University; Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. (in English);
• Marilou Craft: artist; Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. (in French);
• Carling Sioui: founder of Consultations O’yenhra’, a firm that supports and facilitates Indigenous collaborations; Wednesday, January 14, 2026 (in French and English);
• Abigail Celis: curator, editor, and assistant professor of art history and museology at the University of Montreal; Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (in English);
• Jade Almeida: co-founder and executive director of Harambec and lecturer; Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (in French);

 Creative Workshops

• Journées de la culture 2025: Memories in Motion, workshop-visit for families; free, by reservation. Saturday, September 27, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Journées de la culture
• En famille at the MAC: Memories in Motion workshop-visits for the whole family (ages 6 and up) that give you the opportunity to combine drawing and watercolour to create transparent landscapes inspired by Niap’s mural. The first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., from October 4, 2025, to March 7, 2026, and during Spring Break at 1 p.m. from March 3 to 6, 2026. – En famille at the MAC
• Creative Moments: 3 different workshops for adults highlighting 3 themes exploring several techniques, including watercolour, weaving, and drawing. From 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays, November 11, 18, and 25; Wednesdays, November 12, 19, and 26; and Saturdays, November 15, 22, and 29. – Creative Moments

 On site Mediation and Bilingual Tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (tour at 5:30 p.m.) and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (tour at 3 p.m.). – Tours and Mediation

Activities for Groups: free creative workshops and interactive tours centred on the exhibition’s themes offered until March 8, 2026 (with reservation). – Groups

Accessibility

Available at the museum and online, an audio-described resource offers a description of the components that make up the works in the exhibition, for both visually impaired and blind visitors and for any other visitor seeking a deeper understanding of the visual content of the exhibition. This tour is also available in Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) and American Sign Language (ASL). A plain language text is provided next to each artwork’s label. The exhibition texts in large print and braille are also grouped together in a binder available for consultation at the reception desk. Finally, tactile tours for the blind or visually impaired are available upon request.

Acknowledgments

The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) is a Crown corporation subsidized by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec. It also receives financial support from the Government of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. The Museum would also like to thank its Foundation and the many donors who contribute to its success.

Practical information

The exhibition MOMENTA is presented in the temporary location of MAC at Place Ville Marie, at the corner of Mansfield and Cathcart Streets. The main entrance to the Museum is in the PVM Gallery (access via Mansfield Street).

Schedule

Monday: closed
Tuesday to Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Special schedule: Monday October 13, Friday December 26, 2025, and Friday January 2, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday December 31, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026.

About the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC)

For more than 60 years, the MAC has brought together Quebec and international artists, their works, and diverse audiences, celebrating art as an essential component of life in Montreal and Quebec. With the Museum’s headquarters in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles undergoing a major architectural transformation, the MAC has temporarily relocated its activities to Place Ville Marie, another iconic landmark in the city. There, the museum connects with the public through temporary exhibitions highlighting exceptional artists and presenting a variety of practices. The MAC at Place Ville Marie also offers a wide range of educational services, creative workshops, and community outreach activities.