Carte blanche: discover the selected artists
Isabelle Kirouac and Willoughby Arévalo make up the artist duo that will participate in the Carte blanche in May. The ten-day laboratory will allow them to begin a unique research process, with the aim of developing an immersive work on ecology and fungal life. Join us on May 30 and 31 to see their work!
Who are the artists behind the selected duo?
Isabelle Kirouac is a trans-disciplinary artist, choreographer, and teacher. Strongly inspired by the poetry of the senses, ecology, and especially mycology, her works are influenced by her practice in improvised dance, somatic studies, immersive theatre, and olfactory arts. Community engagement is also a driving force in her practice. She has presented her work across Canada and through tours in Europe, the United States, Mexico, and Colombia.
Willoughby Arévalo is a mycologist, visual and sound artist, writer, and teacher. He has taught mycology and the arts across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Greece. He is the author of the book DIY Mushroom Cultivation and was the director of the Vancouver Mycological Society. He has created numerous visual installations for public spaces, including living sculptures made from natural materials (Fruiting Bodies, Beaver Pondering Lodging), and the olfactory installation Aromatic Wheel of Fungi, featuring 360 mushroom scents, as well as a large-scale painting commissioned by DRAWEVERYWHERE/Google Quantum Myco Yoho.
Together, Isabelle and Willoughby have developed Art & Fungi, a series of artistic collaborations blending multiple disciplines around their chosen field: fungal life. The result is sensory and playful experiences that fascinatingly expose how fungi connect and transform our world.
Curious to discover their work? Explore their universe:
- A focus on Isabelle’s performance work
- Discover the Art & Fungi project
The Carte blanche will be presented on May 30 and 31, 2025, at Studio 16. Registration is free via the cultural outreach page on our website or through our online box-office.
