Every Beloved Object

Every Beloved Object is a multimedia exhibition exploring the intersection between ancient ruins, recycling technology, and contemporary waste. Fragments are valued in archeology because they uncover more about human behaviour than lavish gems or relics. Trash becomes artifact. A potshard may reveal archaic customs around communal gathering, a broken seal may illustrate sacred mythology or trace trading routes across newly divided landscapes. If garbage tells us the most about ancient people, what can our waste tell us about our current behaviours?  

This exhibition of new work by Montréal-based artist Adam Basanta returns to ancient architectural techniques as it looks toward new systems of human consumption. An arch-bridge is a Roman structure in which tension loads equally distribute downward, outward, and inward. Each piece exerts forces on its neighbour while resisting the same compression in return. The bricks are formed through DIY methods of trash compaction using materials sourced from local industries and waste management facilities. By returning to basic motions of compaction and assembly, we reflect on our early origins to create new monuments to everyday debris.

About the Artist: 

Adam Basanta (he/him) is an artist, composer, and performer of experimental music. Born in Tel-Aviv (ISR) and raised in Vancouver (CAN), he lives and works in Montreal (CAN) since 2010.

Since 2015, his works have been exhibited in galleries and institutions including the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (CAN), Optica Centre d’art contermporain (CAN), Fotomuseum Winterthur (CH), Arsenal Art Contemporain (CAN), Galerie Charlot (FRA), National Art Centre Tokyo (JPN), V Moscow Biennale for Young Art (RUS), Carroll/Fletcher Gallery (UK), American Medium Gallery (NYC), Serralves Museum (POR), Edith-Russ-Haus fur Mediakunst (GER), York Art Gallery (UK), and The Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe (USA).

His work has been awarded several international prizes, including the Japan Media Arts Prize (2016) and the Aesthetica Art Prize (2017). In 2018 he was longlisted for the Sobey Art Award (CAN), and in 2019 he was the winner of the Prix Pierre Ayot (QC). He is currently represented by Ellephant Gallery (Montreal, CAN). He holds a BFA in Music composition from Simon Fraser University (Vancouver BC CAN) and an interdisciplinary Research-Creation MA in Fine Arts (Concordia University, Montreal QC CAN).