Inside the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, two women, facing each other, take turns talking about their common exhibition project. Several tables, benches and chairs furnish the space. The area has a glass ceiling, and plants border a glass wall. The entrance to an exhibition room and several other doors follow one another on the opposite wall. People are entering the showroom.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Well, there you go! Uh, I'm Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush. I come from Natashquan. I’m Innu. Uh, I'm going to introduce the person here in front of me. Look!
Eruoma Awashish
Kuei! My name is Eruoma Awashish. I'm, uh, from Obedjwan. I'm Atikamewk, and we’re at the Museum of Fine Arts, right, Jani?
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Yeah, at the Museum of Fine Arts. Right now, they’re preparing the room for the Western exhibition. And that's it! We're like in the room where there's like a lot of... trees.
Eruoma Awashish
Yeah. We're, uh, at the Museum of Fine Arts. What’s interesting is that yesterday was our opening... our own!
The women move to the left.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Yeah!
Eruoma Awashish
Our own! And, uh, we were, uh, we were really blessed. There were a lot of people...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Many, many people.
Eruoma Awashish
At the opening. And, uh, well, actually, uh, we’re presenting an “installation” work called, uh, Kushapetshekan in Innu.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
“Kosapitcikan”.
Eruoma Awashish
Yeah. So, uh, that's it. It ‘s the result of a residency at the Oboro artist-run centre. Uh, we were asked to create a prototype artwork, and I had the chance to work with Jani and Meky Ottawa. And then we developed, uh, an installation concept, uh, in a circular room.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Which revolves.
[Laughter] They circle around the table on which the camera is placed.
Eruoma Awashish
So, uh, that's what we have... We have... We had a model, uh, with, uh... prototypes of, uh, videos...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Yeah.
Eruoma Awashish
That we could... Uh... And sound as well...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Yeah, yeah. Hmm! Hmm!
Eruoma Awashish
We made a soundtrack. So, uh, after five intensive days of creating prototypes, we presented to potential exhibitors, in which the Museum was present.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Interested.
Eruoma Awashish
Yeah. They liked... They liked our...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Yeah.
Eruoma Awashish
Our prototype. And then they decided to produce. And that's it. Now, a year later, we’re here at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
If I had been told that I would be standing here a year later, to the day, I would never have believed it.
[Whispering] Francine Grimaldi was also present!
[Laughs]
Eruoma Awashish
Yeah. So, uh, that's it. Yesterday was the opening. There were a lot of people there. We're really proud of the result...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Yeah.
Eruoma Awashish
Uh, the... The installation, uh, actually, it has several elements, if you will. It's, uh, cylindrical structure and then, inside that structure, there are projections, uh, on the three screens surrounding it. It's, uh, a circular projection.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Like this camera. The camera that’s filming.
Eruoma Awashish
Yes, by the way, we can, uh, move...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
We can move.
They’re once again circling around the table.
Eruoma Awashish
To show you what a circular projection is. So, uh, that's it. Then it's accompanied by a soundtrack that, uh.... A soundtrack, which we were just talking about this morning, which is very important to the installation. That's what gives the... the atmosphere, but also the soul, of the installation. So, uh...
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
So, we invite you to come and take a look if you’re in Montreal! It's until...
Eruoma Awashish
You have to come and see it, that’s for sure!
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
February 4th, 2018. Well, otherwise, you'll see the whole thing in this 360° vignette. Wow! I like this...
Eruoma Awashish
Yeah. Mikwetc. Want to do another lap, a little race to end things? Mikwetc.
They continue to circle around the table.
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Bye!
[Laughter]