La Centrale galerie Powerhouse is proud to present the window exhibition Massothérapie by artist Gabrielle Bélanger, from December 8th, 2022 to January 22nd, 2023. A vernissage in the presence of the artist will be held at La Centrale on Thursday, December 8th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m*.

The exhibition Massothérapie is a reflection on the intimacy linked to sex work. After working closely with sex workers in Quebec City, the artist Gabrielle Bélanger proposes an installation using the visual codes of signage for spaces dedicated to sex work: red neon and velvet curtain. Playing with  the delimitation of the territories of intimacy, the artist blurs the border between inside and outside, giving us a view of a space that is normally hidden. By presenting her incandescent neon on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Gabrielle Bélanger renegotiates the question of interaction, central to her work. The title of the exhibition Massothérapie refers to the therapeutic character that sex work can have, and directly names the rarely recognized role of a sex worker, that of companion, or even helper.

Originally from the Mauricie region, Gabrielle Bélanger has an academic background in visual arts, social work and is currently studying sexology. She has received numerous grants from the CALQ and Première Ovation, and for the past five years has been doing residencies in various communities and artist-run centers (La Bande vidéo, Atelier Imago, Fabrik Postdam). Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions (Engramme, Presse Papier), as well as in interventions and performances. She was nominated in 2021 for the Prix Personnalité art et culture en Capitale-nationale. Her prints are part of the collections of Engramme, the Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy and the BAnQ. More information: https://gabriellebelangerartiste.com/ 

This project received a grant from Première Ovation 

Please note that the gallery space is not open to the public during window exhibitions.

* Masks will be mandatory the first hour of the opening. Appetizers and drinks will be offered starting at 6:30 pm.

Image: Massothérapie, 2018. Gabrielle Bélanger