Concordians’ new exhibition at the PHI Foundation reflects on productivity and rest
The Bureau of Noncompetitive Research, a public engagement project by the eponymous collective from Concordia, opens at the PHI Foundation this week.
From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, November 2, visitors will have the opportunity to be part of the "Education Room." Not your typical office space — though it will feature central AC, a suspended ceiling, and a grid of fluorescent lights — the "Education room" will serve as a creative hub for meetings with artists and the public.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will have numerous opportunities to engage with the Bureau and its work, such as participating in a de-motivational poster workshop, enjoying after-work drinks, experiencing performances, and attending a conference.
Meet the Bureau
The Bureau of Noncompetitive Research, established in 2021, has undertaken successful academic and artistic projects in the past, notably Slowness and the Institution (2021), Pedagogy and Time (2022), and Giving Nothing (2023).
This exhibition by the Bureau features work by three students from Concordia’s Art Education PhD program.:
Stacey Cann (MA 12): A performance artist and researcher, Stacey's work delves into the realms of work, endurance, and collaboration.
José Cortés (PhD Student): A transdisciplinary artist, José explores the contrast between value and mundane matters in multimedia, public spaces, and pedagogic projects
Victoria Stanton (BFA 95, Cert 06): An undisciplined performance artist, Victoria's infiltrating and relational works centre on the role of rest, pause, and liminal space in artistic processes.
A space for thought and collaboration
The Bureau of Noncompetitive Research, as conceived by the collective, seeks to explore the intersection of slow philosophy, dialogue, collaboration, pedagogy, and public space. Their exhibition at the PHI Foundation will run from November 3, 2023, to March 10, 2024.
Cann says the project's goal is to encourage audiences to contemplate the dynamics of productivity and rest in contemporary society. By creating a space that fosters non-work or unproductive work, the project aims to “spark discussions on the audience's relationship with work and its impact.”
To find out what’s next from Concordia’s Bureau of Noncompetitive Research, email noncompetitive.research@gmail.com.
Find out more about Concordia’s Department of Art Education and the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance.