Ikon presented Stills by Canadian artist Adad Hannah. A selection of intriguing video pieces which depict various scenarios in which we see figures motionless, holding positions like actors in historical tableaux vivants (living pictures). The artist creates poignant scenes in which narrative, personality and social relationships are explored.

Each piece at Ikon consisted of a continuous videotaping of individuals in circumstances of everyday life. Their fixed moments open into an expanded sense of time in which action is frozen but subtleties are exaggerated such as a finger twitch, a swaying torso and the blink of an eye.

Abuji and Cheezies are vignettes of domestic life from his Family Stills series. In these, members of Hannah’s extended family feature as models and thereby the artist touches on the institution of the most common genre of photography – the family snapshot.

This exhibition was kindly supported by Quebec Arts Council.