This summer, ccdMalvina welcomed a group from the Sherbrooke Down Syndrome Association’s day camp for a day of artistic, sensory, and human discovery. Ariane Demers, cultural mediator at ccdMalvina, reflects on an encounter that left a lasting impression on her.
Seeing the Works Through New Eyes
“I had the privilege of welcoming a very special group to ccdMalvina, ranging in age from 5 to 55. Together, we explored Malvina in the Old Days, encountered bodies in transformation, dipped our feet in the river, and experienced the virtual reality works MESSIS and Wild Intelligences.
From the moment they arrived, handshakes and hugs set the tone. Their enthusiasm was palpable. Throughout the visit, they were curious, attentive, and eager to share their impressions.
Looking at one of the works, one participant observed: ‘The plant on her back looks like veins.’ A little farther along, someone else exclaimed: ‘She’s a house-woman!’
From these observations, we gradually began to build a story together. Every detail became a doorway into the imagination. The works transformed through their eyes, and their interpretations opened up new stories for us to invent together.
Caring for the Living World
Throughout our conversations, one idea kept returning: caring for nature also means caring for something precious. Every plant, every tree can become a work of art in its own right, if only we take the time to truly look.
Then came virtual reality. Reactions were mixed: some were fascinated by this new way of experiencing the world, while others simply told me they preferred ‘real reality.’
Isabelle Van Grimde’s works seemed to leave their mark. One participant even felt the urge to start moving, as though their body wanted to respond to what they had just seen.
Cultural Mediation as a Space for Encounter
But ultimately, it was the encounter itself that stayed with me the most.
Their freedom, curiosity, and poetry will remain with me. This day reminded me that cultural mediation is also a space for encounter: a place where we do not simply come to share or transmit something, but where we ourselves leave transformed by the perspectives, words, and imaginations of others.”
— Ariane Demers, Cultural Mediator at ccdMalvina