Canadassimo (Dépanneur)

Canadassimo (Dépanneur)

BGL

2015
We get such pleasure from building places out of humble materials! And if we succeed in confusing spectators, it’s absolute magic!”
BGL

This is Canadassimo (Dépanneur), created by the Quebec City art collective BGL. In 2015, the trio, formed by Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère, and Nicolas Laverdière, represented Canada at the 56th Venice Biennale — one of the world’s premier art events. That’s where it debuted this artwork.

BGL artists, three men posing together.
The artist collective BGL: Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière
The inside of a convenience store.

BGL is known for its giant-sized, immersive installations that play with the way spectators experience a space. In Venice, the group totally transformed the Canadian pavilion. Visitors were made to enter the exhibition through this ordinary-looking convenience store (what Quebeckers call a “dépanneur”).

In trademark BGL style, Dépanneur involves spectacle, trickery, humour, and some impressive craftsmanship to create a memorable experience for everyone who visits.

What do you see first?

Jam-packed with goodies, Canadassimo (Dépanneur) will make you feel like a kid in a candy store. It’s certainly a feast for the eyes. Shall we dig in?

Keep learning on TVO.org

Article

The Holy Grail of art collecting

In 'The Orange Balloon Dog,' economist Don Thompson details the inner-workings of the contemporary high-end art market.
Read more
Documentary

Brilliant Ideas (Series)

Short arts docs focusing on individual contemporary artists from around the world.
Watch now
Documentary

teamLab - Brilliant Ideas

Founded in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko, teamLab is a 400-strong Japanese digital art collective whose members include artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators...
Watch now
Video

When Consumerism and Art Collide

Artist Brian Jungen, and the Art Gallery of Ontario's Kitty Scott join Nam Kiwanuka to talk about the "Brian Jungen Friendship Centre." The exhibition explores...
Watch now