Etranges Exhibitions 2002 Benjamin Beaulieu

The premise was deceptively simple: Beaulieu staged a set of miniature, nomadic displays in non-gallery spaces across Montreal. Think oddities in laundromats, taxidermy mice arranged in a phone booth, or handwritten labels taped to broken street furniture. The “exhibitions” were never announced in advance. You stumbled upon them—or you didn’t.

Since then, no works, no interviews, no death certificate. Some believe Beaulieu never existed—that "Benjamin Beaulieu" was a pseudonym for a collective of French and Canadian artists experimenting with identity erasure. Others claim he now runs a small clock repair shop in Gaspé, where every clock is set to 11:04 AM — the exact closing time of the final Étranges Exhibition . etranges exhibitions 2002 benjamin beaulieu

We caught up with Benjamin Beaulieu during the installation of the exhibit. Standing amidst the black curtains and projection screens, he explained his philosophy for the 2002 show. The premise was deceptively simple: Beaulieu staged a

"I walked in at 3 PM. I walked out at 7 PM. I do not remember seeing any art. I remember smelling burnt sugar and hearing a child’s cough from behind a wall. There was no child. There was no wall. I think I loved it." You stumbled upon them—or you didn’t