artist statement

My work comprises a wide-ranging, playful examination of the Cold War era. Rather than focus on ideological differences between capitalism and communism, my interest is in the things East and West had in common—things which are, in their way, no less ideological: the space race and fetishization of technology … valorization of sport, leisure, and tourism … obsession with cinema and the moving image … and a limitless appetite for consumer electronic devices. I am also intrigued by how these two “modern civilizations” also acted, in differing modes, as conduits or filters for the imperialist and colonialist projects that preceded them.
 
That era’s narratives and styles remain relevant today, and continue to dominate how we understand our world and operate in it. The Cold War’s vivid aesthetic vocabularies, as expressed in the galaxy of cultural artifacts and events it spawned, play throughout my projects, as do its central, interwoven concerns of societal progress and military dominance. While I sometimes use digital media to create or present my projects, my key themes are mostly pre-digital.
 
My works salute the cheery confidence of modernist utopian visions—the pursuit of prosperity, fun, and the good life. At once, they also cling to humour and irony like ambivalent lifesavers, as though anticipating the next dystopia, so awfully new, perhaps even
​newly awful.

artist bio

Born in Winnipeg, visual artist Edwin Janzen lives and practices in Montreal. He works in digital imaging, video, installation, drawing, artist books, and other media. Edwin has both exhibited and worked as an artist-in-residence at diverse locations across Canada. He completed his MFA at the University of Ottawa (2010) and his BFA at Concordia University in Montreal (2008), and also holds a BA in history (Byzantine Empire) from the University of Manitoba (1993). Also a contract editor and writer, Edwin has published in Canadian Art, Border Crossings, and many other publications, and has written or edited for scores of individual and institutional clients.

C.V.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
LIving and working in Montreal, Québec

EDUCATION
MFA (Visual Arts), University of Ottawa, 2010
BFA (Interdisciplinary Studies/Video), Concordia University, 2008
BA (History/Classics), University of Manitoba, 1993

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019      Warren G. Flowers Gallery, Remotes, Dawson College, Montreal, Sept.                  26–Oct. 19
2017      Carnegie Gallery, Remotes, Dundas, ON, Feb. 3–26
2016      Maison des arts de Laval, The Gourganes Group, Laval, Quebec, Nov.
​               27–Feb. 5
               Galerie La Seigneurie, Souvenirs, Châteauguay, Quebec, July 6–Aug. 1
               ViewPoint Gallery, Remotes, Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 6–May 1
2012      Station House Gallery, Conspiracy Case, Williams Lake, B.C., July 5–
​​               Sept. 1
               Eastern Bloc (Data : Salon), Lost Islands, Montreal, Feb. 22
2010      Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum, Guys In Caves, Carp,
               Ontario, Aug. 13–Sept. 30
2009     Galerie 115, The Twelve Labours of Hercules, Ottawa, Mar. 2–6
2008     VAV Gallery, Dismembership, Montreal, Apr. 21–May 2
2007      Atelier Wooden Apples, Ova Nova, Montreal, Dec. 7, 2007–Jan. 4, 2008
               Galerie Sharon Ramsay, Ghost Town, Montreal, May 1–6
2006     Espace Perspective, Défiler, Montreal, Oct. 31–Nov. 18

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019      Fichiers temporaire, Centre SAGAMIE, Alma, QC, Oct. 8–Dec. 12
2018      FEAL 2018, Main & Station Nonesuch, Parrsboro, NS, Dec. 21–Jan. 2
​2017      Art Gallery of St. Albert, St. Albert, AB, Dec. 7, 2017–Jan. 27
2016      Chromatic Festival, MASSIVart, Montreal, May 19–22
2015      Visual Voice Gallery, Moon Mission, Montreal, July 15–24
               Art Souterrain, Nuit Blanche Montreal, Feb. 28–Mar. 15
2014      articule, Prestige, Montreal, Feb. 26–Mar. 1
2013      Whippersnapper Gallery, Sidewalk Screening, Toronto, Dec. 12–Jan. 30
               articule, Par Armure, Montreal, Mar. 15–24
               Station House Gallery, 2Pro.gress, Williams Lake, B.C., Feb. 7–Mar. 2
2012      Island Mountain Arts Public Gallery, Wells, B.C., July 20–Aug. 20
               Peter Robertson Gallery, The Big Idea, cur. Julian Forrest, Edmonton,
               June 21–July 5
               Galerie 427, What Keeps You Awake At Night?, Montreal, Feb. 25
               Nuit Blanche Montreal, Transmute, curated by Geneviève Gallant,
               Feb. 25–Mar. 16
               King Street Alt Film and Video Festival, Toronto, Feb. 10
               articule, Change / Le Changement, Montreal, Feb. 3–13
               Tumble Contemporary Art, Firstness, Winnipeg, Jan. 12–22
2011       Galérie Epilogue, Re: Collection, Ottawa, Dec. 16, 2011–Apr. 10, 2012
               articule, Les Faussaires, Montreal, Nov. 28–26
               Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival, Corridor (outdoor installation),
               Brandon, MB, July 21–24
               Long Haul, Invisible, Montreal, May 21–29
               articule, Je me souvenir, Montreal, Feb. 25–Mar. 6
2010      Galerie Donald Browne, Vestiges, Montreal, Mar. 23–25
               articule, Drift Lines / À la dérive, Montreal, Jan. 21–31
2009      Galerie 115, ON/OFF, Ottawa, Mar. 23–Apr. 3
                articule, artartar, Montreal, Jan. 17–Feb. 2
2008      Galerie 115, Dirty Dozen, Ottawa, Dec. 3–10
                Galerie 115, Prelude, Ottawa, Sept. 29–Oct. 10
                FOFA Gallery, 30 (Concordia Univ. Annual Undergraduate
                Exhibition), Apr. 14–May 9
                Diagonale, Less Is More, Montreal, Mar. 16–29
2007      Galerie Sharon Ramsay, The Name We Need, Montreal, May 8–13
                Ctrl Lab (Montreal Fringe Festival), Ctrl Alt Delete, Montreal, June 22

RESIDENCIES / INTERNSHIPS
2019        Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, FL, May 12–June 1
2014        Centre Sagamie, Alma, Québec, May 26–30
2013        Ateliers Topaz, Opasatika, Ontario, Oct. 27–Nov. 16
2012        Centre Sagamie, Alma, Québec, Nov. 12–16
2011         Inkstorm Screenprint Residency, Roberts Street Social Centre,
                 Halifax, Sept. 14–28
2009       Organizer, Open Source Hardware Summit, The Banff Centre,
                 May–Aug.

CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2008       Galérie C-Blu, Harry Potter and the Phantasmagoric Discourse,
                 Montreal, Mar. 6–12. With Hélène Brousseau.
2007        Art Mûr, Friendly Fire, Montreal, Mar. 1–17. With Joshua Barndt.

GRANTS AND AWARDS
• Canada Council for the Arts, Professional Development Grant, June 2019
• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Travel Grant, May 2014
• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Québec-Ontario Artist-in-Residence, Oct. 2013
• University of Ottawa Dean’s Scholarship, Nov. 2010
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Apr. 2009
• Excellence Scholarship, University of Ottawa, Apr. 2009
• Graduate Studies Admission Scholarship, University of Ottawa, Mar. 2008
• Various Concordia University special project grants (Concordia Students' Union, Concordia Council on Student Life, Concordia University Alumni Association, Fine Arts Student Alliance, Office of the President), 2004–08
• Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation Bursary, Nov. 2007; Nov. 2006; June 2005
• Jason Last Award, Concordia University, May 2007
• Contribution to Fibres Area Award, Concordia University, Feb. 2007
• Student Bursary, Manitoba Arts Council, July 2006; July 2005
• G&S Textile Design Award, Apr. 2006
• Faculty of Fine Arts Development Fund Scholarship, Concordia University, Nov. 2005
• Faculty of Fine Arts Development Fund Bursary, Concordia University, Mar. 2005

TEACHING
• T.A., “Artistic Strategies of the Postmodern Era,” Prof. A. Fitzpatrick, University of Ottawa, Jan.–June 2009
• T.A., “Museum Studies,” Prof. C. Jeffery, University of Ottawa, Sept.–Dec. 2009
• T.A., “Hybrids,” Prof. A. Castonguay, University of Ottawa, Sept.–Dec. 2008

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Member, articule, Montreal, Feb. 2005–Sept. 2016
• Seated Member, Board of Directors, articule, Sept. 2006–Apr. 2016
​• Founding Member, Atelier Au Deuxième (screenprint collective), Montreal, May 2011–Jan. 2016
• Contract Copywriter and Editor, Sept. 2010–present (for more information go here)
• President, Board of Directors, articule, June 2011–June 2012
• Treasurer, Board of Directors, articule, June 2010–June 2011
• Council Member, University of Ottawa Graduate Students Association, Feb.–Aug. 2010
• Founding Member, University of Ottawa Society of Visual Arts Graduate Students, Jan.–Aug. 2010
• Founding Member, Board of Directors, Gallery 115 (University of Ottawa), Sept. 2009–Aug. 2010
• Founding Publisher and Editor, Les Fleurs du Mal magazine, Aug. 2005–Oct. 2009
• Member, Board of Governors, Concordia University, Sept. 2007–June 2008
• Popular Culture and Media Columnist, Canadian Dimension, Aug. 2006–June 2010
• Member, Faculty Council of Fine Arts, Concordia University, June 2006–May 2008
• Executive-At-Large, Fine Arts Student Alliance, Concordia University, June 2006–May 2008
• President, Fine Arts Student Alliance, Concordia University, June 2006–May 2007
• Secretary, Board of Directors, VAV Gallery, Concordia University, May 2005–Apr. 2006
• Associate Publisher, Canadian Dimension, Dec. 1999–Aug. 2001
• Founding Member, Editorial Collective, Tart magazine, Feb. 1999–Dec. 2000
• Editor, The Harold, Plug In ICA, May 1996–Dec. 1997
© 2004–2017 by Edwin Janzen. All rights reserved.