THE STORY
The gallery
Passim Galerie d'Art.
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It is undoubtedly that Montreal with a Haitian community estimated at more than 200,000 is the city representing after New York and Florida the most important Haitian concentration.
It is par excellence the most interesting, the most endearing and the most evolved city.
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The center of Montreal offers various visitors the perfect opportunity to visit St Joseph's Oratory, the Olympic stadium, the Jacques Cartier bridge and the old port. Summer in Montreal is the ideal time for many to discover the diversity and creativity of all of its cultural events organized by this city. Music, Art, Humor, Restoration, Francofolies Etc.
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After more than three generations of Haitians having chosen Montreal as their land of welcome, the question never arose how to succeed in bringing together all its cultural resources into an identity bundle capable of transforming the Haitian everyday experience into a message. .
Message that must be articulated either through music, painting, poetry and gastronomy.
As painting keeps a place of choice in the real reality of the Ar-itian outside the country. Because it transports and translates an idyllic vision of the Haitian reality through time and space.
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Jean Simon François and Pascal Fleurantin have come to understand that Haitian painting through what it propagates as Art deserves to have a space of its own where everyone can come and admire the various Haitian painters or foreigners exposed.
For the first time in Montreal, Haitians have something to be proud of because two sons of the country have opened the first Haitian Art Gallery in Montreal. They took a long time because it has been a long road to finally open 5384 Rue Jean Taon Est the PASSIM Gallery where works by different Canadian, African, Asian and Haitian painters have been exhibited since March 1, 2020.
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"Montreal in summer is a flower" said a friend who visited Montreal and for the first time its Botanical garden is worth the detour.
PASSIM Gallery, come visit them to encourage them because "Gade pa boule je" Long live Passim Galerie.
THE ARTISTS
Jean Simon Francois
Born in Port-au-Prince Haiti Jean Simon Francois started very early in painting, influenced by renowned artists such as: Prospère Pierre Louis, Wilmino Domond, Jean pierre Auguste etc.
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
In 1992 he was admitted to the National School of Fine Arts, but the political turpitudes of the time prevented him from completing his course in visual arts. He was not discouraged and continued to paint for individuals and friends.
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In 1994 he was invited to participate in a painting exhibition in the Dominican Republic where he won the young painter's prize offered by the Haitian-Dominican artists association. His works have been exhibited around the world such as Cuba, USA, France, Italy and the Dominican Republic.
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In 1996 he moved to Montreal with his family, his passion for painting never wavered to the delight of a select and knowledgeable public who participated in several of his private exhibitions, during which his works were unanimously accepted. recognized as those of a great master.
Jean Simon François.
Pascal Fleurantin
Born in Port-au-Prince in Haiti Pascal Fleurantin was very early initiated to modern painting under the influence of a great Haitian painter Casimir Joseph who had to give him some salutary advice and encouraged him to perfect his knowledge of plastic art.
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In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
So in 1992 Pascal joined ENARTS (National School of Fine Arts) , which helped him enormously in the perfection of his art.
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Pascal participated in several exhibitions particularly in 2000 at the invitation of JNTO (Japan National Office of Tourism). For a month his works were exhibited in Japan. At the Venice Biennale in Italy where he was invited as a young painter, his works received a very good mention. Whether in Cuba , Belgium and the Bahamas , Pascal carried the banner of Haitian painting high. Everywhere his works were received with immense joy by critics.
In 2008, Pascal Fleurantin, wanting to give another dimension to his art, decided to immigrate to Canada.
In 2015, Pascal will meet Jeansimon Francois, another painter like him, together they put their respective knowledge in the field of art to profusion to the creation of the first Haitian art gallery in Montreal.
