kimura byol-nathalie lemoine

Selected Performances and Photographs, 2020.

kimura byol-nathalie lemoine (키무라 별 – 나타리 르뫈  – 木村 ビヨル – ナタリー レムワンー) is a conceptual multimedia feminist artist who works on identities (diaspora, ethnicity, colorism, post-colonialism, immigration, gender), and expresses it with calligraphy, paintings, digital images, poems, videos and collaborations. kimura*lemoine’s work has been exhibited, screened, published and supported nationally and internationally. kimura*lemoine, as curator, has developed projects that give voice and visibility to minorities and as an activist archivist, ze is working on A.C.A (adoptees cultural archives)  to document the history of adoptee’s culture through media and arts. 

Recipient of 2014-2015 Mentorship Program from Montreal Arts Interculturals and a 2015 Vivacité Grant from CALQ and the Prize PowerHouse from Gallery La Centrale and the 2017 ‘Regard sur Montréal‘ (CAM, NFB, ACIC), a 2018 CALQ Grant for zer writing essay project ’88 etc. In 2020, kimura*lemoine completed Adoption 30 years after (with ACIC-ONF/NFB) and exhibited at Dazibao (Jan.-Mar., 2020, Montreal).

My art practice is based on time. The selected images are from the time period of the start of the covid19 pandemic. As a full-time independent artist, the new situation didn't really change for me in terms of social connection since I connected mostly with people through social media. Being from the asian diaspora and having been living in 3 different main places, managin time-zones keeps me busy if I want to keep in touch with my friends and networking artists.
As an artist, I joined a few art projects mainly initiated by Caucasian Canadians. I was definitely a minority and spent my energy encouraging POC artists to join. But they were too exhausted with anti-asian racism (for asians) and systemic racism and police brutality for afro-descendants in Montreal, Quebec and Canada. 
I also lost my ex-wife in the beginning of the pandemic which put me in a more fragile state of 'heart & mind'. As an overseas and inter-racial adoptee, paradoxically, I was lucky to connect through Facebook with the Montreal asian group that provided support and self-care. It was helping me a lot that many others out there were sharing their stories. Then, I also joined a few Zoom talks and connected even more with P.O.C adoptees web group discussions. It is very therapeutic (more than expected).
All of this to say that the five selected photos represent this strange time. The last photo and artwork is a work that I made to celebrate my 100 days of confinement (3 months and 10 days -march 13 to june 21). The art piece is made from  100 petals selected from a gift received for my real birthday from a fellow belgian korean (also living in montreal).