On June 3 and 4, 2021, I had the opportunity to participate in the study day “Représenter le corps absent” (“Representing the Absent Body”) at Université Paris Nanterre. My presentation, entitled Poésie et politique d’une corporéité invisible chez Steve Giasson (Poetry and Politics of an Invisible Corporeality in the Work of Steve Giasson), delved into the work of this contemporary artist, exploring how he uses the invisibility of the body to question and critique social and political norms.
Article’s thumbnail: Carleton University Art Gallery website (voir ici)
Reference of the presentation:
Poésie et politique d’une corporéité invisible chez Steve Giasson, presentation for the study day Représenter le corps absent, held at Université Paris Nanterre, organized by Barbara Bessac and Quentin Petit Dit Duhal (+ online publication planned for 2023).
Steve Giasson’s Approach
In my analysis, I examined how Giasson, through his performances and photographic works, almost completely makes the physical body disappear to make way for a presence that is both poetic and political.
This absence of the body becomes a powerful vehicle for meaning, allowing often-invisible subjects in public discourse to be brought to light.
Reactions and Interactions
The presentation generated strong interest among participants, sparking deep discussions on the interpretation of absence and its symbolic significance.
The organizers, Barbara Bessac and Quentin Petit Dit Duhal, created a space for exchange that allowed all speakers to debate the theoretical and practical implications of representing absence.
Personal and Academic Impact
This experience was enriching both personally and professionally.
It allowed me to highlight my research on an international platform and to contribute to an essential academic dialogue on new forms of representation in contemporary art.
Participating in this study day at Université Paris Nanterre not only strengthened my belief in the importance of art in social critique, but also broadened my research horizons. This presentation — Poésie et politique d’une corporéité invisible chez Steve Giasson (Poetry and Politics of an Invisible Corporeality in the Work of Steve Giasson) — remains a defining moment in my academic journey, emphasizing the importance of the ongoing dialogue between art and politics.