In the 1970s and 1980s, numerous alternative artists were inspired by similar movements throughout the world. With willful irreverence they pitted themsleves against art that took itself too seriously, by carving out space for improvisation, performance, and multidisciplinary work. This energy – and many of the artists who embodied it – then went on to contribute to the cultural development of Quebec on the international stage.

The exhibition looks back on this era through the evolution of the work of Zïlon, his collaborations with other notable artists, and the various emblematic and alternative spaces that bore witness to his art, from the Gay Village to the Quartier des Spectacles.