The Contamination + Addiction Exhibition by Michel Huneault

From 9 January to 5 February 2014, the Centre for Sustainable Development will host, in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation and the borough of Ville-Marie, the Contamination + Addiction exhibition by Michel Huneault, a powerful photo‑essay on the Lake Megantic disaster.

In his installations, which blend photographic documentary and contemporary art, Michel Huneault looks in detail and with sobriety at disturbing and hypnotic visuals captured on the Chaudière River in the five months following the Lake Megantic derailment, now recognized as the country's worst rail disaster. “This unique work is an unquestionable and factual document of the oil spills and a tool for reflection on the risks of our contemporary addiction and attraction to oil,” says Michel Huneault.

Opening and silent auction

The exhibition opening, held on 14 January 2014, will be an express networking event and will mark the start of the Centre for Sustainable Development’s 2014 winter and spring program. On this occasion, two representatives of the Comité citoyen de la région du lac Mégantic (citizen committee for the Lake Mégantic region) will be speaking on behalf of the group’s 18 founders. This non-profit organization aims to help citizens have their say with authorities on the decontamination and revitalization of the region. 

Event will last approx. 1 1/2 hours. Voluntary contributions. Sign up here: www.lamdd.org

A silent auction will be held during the exhibition. Half of the profits will go towards the artist's future projects. The other half will support the Centre for Sustainable Development’s cultural activities.

Michel Huneault

Michel Huneault (1976) is a Montreal-based documentary photographer. Before working full‑time in photography, he worked in international development for over a decade, which took him to more than 20 countries. Michel’s photographic work, for which he has received numerous awards, has been widely published in Canada and around the world. He addresses issues relating to sustainable development, occupation of territories and post-conflict situations. Michel has a scholarship from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec [Quebec arts and letters council] and is represented by agencies Cosmos (Paris) and Polaris (New York).

Thank you!

The Centre for Sustainable Development would like to thank the artist, Lamcom, partner in printing, the Ville-Marie borough, the David Suzuki Foundation, La Face Cachée de la Pomme, the Metro newspaper, Novae and Alcoa, its main partner in programming. The greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the transportation of participants in the 2014 program will be offset thanks to a partnership with Planetair.