[Fall 2026]
Denis Rioux, Espace DÈS_, recherche photographique
An interview by Mona Hakim
[EXCERPT]
In early 2026, a space devoted exclusively to photography opened in the Belgo Building, in downtown Montreal. Run and financed by thirteen artists, Espace DÈS_ offers them studios, creative residencies, and a gallery. The project was started by Denis Rioux, a photographer and independent curator, who is one of the thirteen artists. Wanting to find out how the new space came to be and where it’s going, I talked with Rioux, who has clear ideas about its purpose.
mona hakim: Why did you want to create a space devoted entirely to photography?
denis rioux: First and foremost, I’d say, it was a question of survival. Le Centre des arts actuels Skol could no longer provide me with a studio space, so I had to find another solution. And why not help out other artists who want to improve their creative conditions? The cost of spaces for rent in the Belgo Building was certainly an obstacle, but when the director of Skol [Florent To Lay] told me that his organization was taking over the lease on a separate space, everything became much more concrete and possible. Then, I had to find other people interested in the venture – not so many that the project would become unwieldy, but enough to make sure that it would be financially viable. I must say, these days, artists in general are desperately looking for affordable studios and are finding that opportunities to exhibit their work, especially in photographic research, in a professional setting are increasingly complex and rare. The closure [in 2022] of Galerie La Castiglione left a big hole. I think it was this sense of urgency and precarity that gave the project such drive.
[…]
[ Complete issue, in print and digital version, available here: Ciel variable 133 – INTIMACIES ]
[ Complete article in digital version available here : Denis Rioux, Espace DÈS_, Recherche photographique ]
Mona Hakim is a curator, historian, and art critic. She has written numerous essays and reviews and has been a contributor to Ciel variable for many years. Focusing on various issues related to contemporary photography, she keeps a particular eye on the Quebec scene. As a curator, she has organized more than twenty-five retrospective and group exhibitions.