Stéphanie Morissette: "Birds of Prey" in Montréal

Work by Stamps alumna Stéphanie Morissette (MFA ​’24) is featured in Birds of Prey, a solo exhibition on view December 4 — January 19 at Jano Gallery in Montréal.

Imagining an era where biological specimens and man-made machinery have merged into a new, hybrid species. Using the perspective of a far-future naturalist who would observe and draw these creatures – part bird, part drone – and untangle the troubling legacy of militarism, synthetic biology and genetic engineering in our current time. The exhibition presents nine watercolors and one large book titled ​“Birds of Prey” in the manner of John James Audubon’s book ​“Birds of America” with an illustrated comics aspect. Also in the exhibition, an ornithology collection of hybrid specimens of birds/​drones, representing trials and errors in the evolution of biological manipulation.

Mutations can occur naturally and create unexpected results. With ​“Birds of Prey” Morissette’s research looks into the past to propose speculative zoology to imagine a future branch in the tree of life – one where biological specimens and man-made machinery have merged into a new, hybrid species. Using the perspective of a far-future naturalist observing these creatures – part animal, part machine – and must untangle the troubling legacy of militarism and genetic engineering in our current time. 

This vision of the future is rooted in realities of the ethics and priorities of contemporary scientific research. A large proportion of funding for synthetic biology research in the United States comes from sources like Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an organization committed to creating weapons of war. ​“Birds of Prey” foreshadows a distant future, where their experiment will most likely serve the interests of military advancement over life. 

Using naturalist and zoologist modes of interpretation and points of view, this exhibition presents a dark future. The artist uses an 18^th century naturalist point of view to provide a historical and scientific narrative around a futuristic subject and raise questions about weaponization of nature.

Stéphanie Morissette: Birds of Prey
Exhibition Dates: December 4 — January 19
Jano Gallery, 3819 Wellington street, Montréal, Qc. Canada