Galerie Simon Blais presents Vacation-Work Program, a visual journey across various works of art that can be understood as different representations of relaxation and toil. As a whole, they are an expression of a fundamental human preoccupation, one that has become more pronounced since the dawn of the industrial era. In a letter to his son-in-law Paul Lafargue dated August 13, 1866, Karl Marx wrote: “Observation has persuaded me that you are not very industrious by nature, despite spasmodic feverish activity and good intentions.”

Through this exhibition, the gallery is also taking up the challenge of revealing the potential dichotomy between work and freedom, as well as between employment-related alienation and the leisure society that, for the majority of humankind, will not materialize any time soon. 

Vacation-Work Program is part of a collaboration with Montréal’s Art Souterrain Festival on its 2018 theme of Labor Improbus—Hard Work.