Stéphane Gladyszewski

Stéphane Gladyszewski, artist of the human body, light and images, studied photography before earning a degree in visual arts at UQAM in 1999, and another in fine arts (with a major in Interdisciplinary studies) at Concordia University in 2003. Towards the end of his studies, his multidisciplinary approach asserted itself as he created Ab Ovo Terre Promise, an interactive “ecosystem,” and then Provo, Ov (2002), an optical construction, and In Side (2003), a performance piece with integrated video images. In Side was later presented at contemporary dance festivals in Lille (France) and Kortrijk (Belgium).

Interested in movement, Stéphane came to dance through contact improvisation. By serendipity – and a yen for taking on challenges – he went to an audition for the dance company Daniel Léveillé Nouvelle Danse in 2004. He would be part of the trilogy Amour, acide et noix, La pudeur des icebergs and Crépuscule des océans. His mark on the world of dance would also take the form of theatrical objects created for choreographer Hinda Essadiqui and for Mia Maure Danse.

It was with Aura (2005), presented in the same year at Espace Tangente and at the Festival TransAmériques, that Stéphane Gladyszewski consolidated his practice of integrating video, bodies in movement, sound, and matter. He drew on his scientific knowledge of sensorial perception and used technological tools, all the better to cloud or unsettle spectators’ perceptions.

Aura was chosen to be part of the Mois-Multi festival in Quebec City and Théâtre 140 in Brussels in 2006, and of the Artdanthé festival in Vanves (France) in 2007. In February 2009, Hivernales of Avignon invited him to produce an installation inside Jean-Vilar Center based on some chosen moments of In Side, Aura and Corps noir. At Montréal”s festival TransAmériques 2009, he was invited to present some moments of Corps noir.