A premiere on the American Continent, Galerie La Centrale presents Orientité-Montréal from May 18 to June 10 2007, a time where, even though Korean adoption is on the decline, thousands of « little chinese babies» continue to be adopted and welcomed on quebecois soil.

In Korea, May is dedicated to the family (May 5th is Children's Day, May 11th is Adoption Day). In Montreal, May is Asian Heritage Month. The Orientité exhibition is paradoxical in that the European artists Adel Kim Gouillon, Jane Jin Kaisen, Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine are Asian in appearance, but their upbringing does not reflect their said culture. Through their art they attempt –as adults– to recall and reconstruct a "whitened" and erased identity.

Considering their evasive and practically non-existent cultural heritage, personal creativity becomes crucial in the definition of their evolving identities.

Orientité is composed in three phases:

First, a collaborative piece developed amongst three artists will be displayed : photos of the artists as adults in which we see their adoption numbers, embassies and adoption agencies involved. Simultaneously, other personal pictures of each artist taken in Montreal will be exhibited.

Secondly, on Sunday the 20th of May, local artists will be invited to participate in the 24 hour Project taking place at La Central at noon.

Finally, a program produced by artists and filmmakers entitled Adoptité will be screened on Saturday May 26th. It will be followed by a round table discussion in which the themes of filmmaking, identity and adoption through the european point of view (a continent that has experienced an adoption boom in the 70s, 80s and 90s) will take place. This discussion aims to sensitize the quebecois public to this recently very mediatized occurence.

The gallery will also host a screening corner to view films directed by Korean Women Adoptee Filmmakers.

In general, the private Asian Diaspora is known for their discrete and silent nature. Despite not growing up in these social origins, adopted Asian children growing up in Caucasian families have gained new social norms allowing them to express their opinions openly.

« Orientité » started in kyoto, then travelled in Hong Kong and Grenoble (France).

For bios and more information : www.myspace.com/orientity

The artists would like to thank Danya Seginer, Alexandra Hayette, Le Centre audiovisuel Simone de Beauvoir, Star-Kim Project, La Centrale, Frites Alors ! Masson and André-Marie Coudou.