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Interactive exhibition InSomnolence shows sleep is more social than it seems

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The Lantern by Natalie Fizer, Richard Sommer, Henry Tan and Ding Yun Huang. Credit: Henry Tan / La lanterne de Natalie Fizer, Richard Sommer, Henry Tan et Ding Yun Huang. Photo : Henry Tan
Image by Henry Tan.
InSomnolence, an interactive exhibition on until July 13 in Montreal. Credit Paul Litherland / InSomnolence, une exposition interactive présentée jusqu'au 13 juillet à Montréal. Photo : Paul Litherland
Radio Insomnia by Anabelle Lacroix and Nicolas Montgermont. Credit: Anabelle Lacroix / Radio Insomnia d'Anabelle Lacroix et Nicolas Montgermont. Photo : Anabelle Lacroix
In Dreams by Dayna McLeod. Credit: Paul Litherland / Dans mes rêves par Dayna McLeod. Image : Paul Litherland
Fall (sss) by Yoojin Lee. Credit: Paul Litherland / Chute(sss) par Yoojin Lee. Image : Paul Litherland
Published: 5 July 2023

From an artist’s attempt to tame troubled sleep with AI, to sounds and objects as artifacts of other people’s dream, to a radio station that transforms the dread of insomnia into curiosity and collective listening, the exhibition by the research collective asks: how does sleep bring us together?

Lack of sleep is often treated as an individual, isolating problem instead of one that requires social attention and care. Amidst endless tools and advice, from sleep apps to sleep hygiene experts, people are often left to fend for themselves when it comes to troubled rest.

Exploring the social aspects that impact sleep, InSomnolence is an interactive exhibition on until July 13 in Montreal put together by local and international artists collaborating with researchers across four Montreal universities.

“The exhibit examines the everyday experiences of sleep, from the rhythms of productivity and rest, to fatigue and the medica­lization of sleep, and even the individual experiences of dreams,†says Â鶹AV Professor Alanna Thain, who co-led the project with Université de Montréal Professor Aleksandra Kaminska. In some installations, visitors are invited to get cozy and dose off in dreamlike spaces to “experiment with the edges of sleep.â€

“Over the past two years, we have been developing unique and experimental sleep situations through art and research experiments. These installations combine tools and insights from the arts, humanities, and sciences that can enrich our understanding of sleep and the treatment of sleep conditions. They also showcase how sleep is much more social than it might seem –through media installations, performances, sound, and design—inviting the public to take their nightly habits of sleep into unexpected situations.

by is on until July 13, 2023, in the Agora Hydro-Quebec at Coeur des sciences, Hexagram-UQAM, at 175 President-Kennedy Ave.

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