Since 2021, I have been organizing a summer outdoor exhibition in the center of the village of Oka, on display from July to October. This project is part of the cultural program organized by the Oka Arts and Culture Society (SACO).

The first exhibition, “Portraits d’ici,” explored the theme of the environment through portraits of residents and organizations in the Deux-Montagnes region. It addressed biodiversity conservation, the connection between art and the environment, “fast fashion,” recycling, citizen activism, and the wisdom of elders.

“We are inextricably linked to our environment through our most vital functions. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and what we eat result from processes whose study continually leads us to new discoveries. Humans are subject to the same cycle of life as all organisms on the planet, but they have the unique ability to disrupt the balance of their habitat. They often destroy out of ignorance, and in doing so, they deprive themselves of the unsuspected richness of a biodiversity essential to their survival.

The exhibition Portraits d'ici lifts the curtain on the reality of environmental issues that are familiar to us and on which we can take direct action, such as clothing, nutrition, the living environment, and education. It sheds light on eco-friendly actions, community initiatives, scientific advances, and applied research, It is also an invitation to explore our natural world, to let ourselves be filled with wonder, and to try to understand it.

The people who graciously posed for this project live in our region; they all share a respect for the environment that is reflected in their daily eco-friendly actions. Together with them, let us all play our part in preserving our biosphere.