They were first known for excelling in an artistic discipline: music, humour, acting or even writing. Then they surprised us by touching on another form of art such as painting, cinema, song or scriptwriting. Some even add one or more other talents to their already well-stocked CV. Quebec multidisciplinary artists impress with their audacity and creativity.

There are artists who seem to have all the talents. It also seems that in Quebec the inventory of these jack-of-all-trades artists has been growing in recent years. Can one learn to become a multidisciplinary artist or is it a kind of innate favor?

“It’s curiosity that leads us to do a lot of things, it’s not necessarily the ambition to do something else,” believes singer-songwriter, musician and poetry writer Daniel Bélanger. My idols were often general practitioners. I grew up with Boris Vian who is an all-knowing genius. My culture is that of curious people who go everywhere, who try their hand, who bump into each other or who succeed. This is the kind of life I wanted to lead: to go everywhere. »

The more than prolific Simon Boulerice admits having found, through his many and different projects, the way to “pass his hyperactivity”. And since the 40-year-old author, actor and comedian is interested in all forms of art – as well as a host of subjects, related or not – it was only natural for him to start creating. in all these spheres.

The actor, filmmaker and writer Guillaume Lambert believes in a “Xavier Dolan effect”.

“When the young director started doing a bit of everything, it showed young artists that they didn’t have to choose a discipline, that they might try everything,” explains the author of the novel. Eschatology last October.

TALENT AND AUDACITY

It would be allowed to believe that talent and multiplicity are part of the DNA of Émile Proulx-Cloutier, who seems to be the very definition of an artist who excels in everything he does, he who is the son of actors. Raymond Cloutier and Danielle Proulx.

“I have parents who have done all kinds of business, says the actor, singer-songwriter, musician and author. Arthouse cinema, shows in an experimental theatre, soap operas, TV series and summer theatre. They touched on everything and everything is done with the same heart. For them, there is no hierarchy of projects. They say to themselves: I will do what I have been entrusted with with all my heart. For me, it was a deep learning. »

Some multidisciplinary artists

• Sebastien Ricard: music, game
• Micheline Lanctot: play, cinema, writing
• Gildor Roy : game, animation, song
• Stephane Lafleur: director, singer (With no headphones)
• Isabelle Blais: game, song
• Robert Lalonde : writing, acting, theatre, poetry
• Michel Rivard : play, song, theater
• Xavier Dolan : film, acting, film and music video direction (Adele), fashion
• Dan Bigras: music, game, animation
• Summons: song, game, photography
• Ghislain Taschereau: humor, animation, literature
• France Castel : game, song, animation
• Marc Labreche: humor, animation, game, painting
• Yves P. Pelletier : humor, literature, animation
• Stephane Rousseau: humor, game
• Patrick Huard: game, humor
• Robert Lepage : play, theatre, cinema
• Louise Portal : writing, painting, playing
• Anik Jean: music, cinema
• Brigitte Lafleur: game, painting
• Mariloupe Wolfe: game, achievement
• Marilou: music, animation, game, business woman
• Sarah-Maude Beauchesne : acting, novel writing and television
• Ginette Reno: music, cinema
• Eric Bruneau: acting, writing, production

Mariana Mazza

After two films – including the recent Vanishing lines –, an exhibition of pop art in November 2021 and a second show called ImpolieMariana Mazza can be broadly defined as a multidisciplinary artist.

Comedian, actress, painter and now author, she explains that she has always touched on everything, which people did not know. Hence the surprise of some during his exhibition of pop paintings, his appearances in films and the release of Montreal Northhis first autofiction novel regarding his childhood, last October.

“I never just made humor, it’s just that I didn’t talk regarding it, explains Mariana Mazza. I’ve always loved being on stage, but I’ve always done something else. Painting, reading and writing have been part of my life for a long time. We are simply surprised because I bring it to light now. »

PASSIONS

It was the pandemic that gave him the necessary downtime to reconnect with his various passions, including writing. Known for her outspokenness, the 32-year-old doesn’t mince words when asked if she ever gets the feeling of the impostor while practicing any of her disciplines.

” No way ! I owe nothing to anyone, she says. I don’t have to give an explanation because I want to do something. I think we have to stop justifying ourselves in what we do. If the thing is well done and done with heart and passion, we have nothing to say. »

♦ Mariana Mazza published the novel Montreal North in October. Two other parts are planned to complete this trilogy approaching his life in three stages: childhood, adolescence and adult life. She continues her tour Impolie.

Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette

Author of novels, filmmaker, creator of documentary plays, mother of three children, environmental activist and co-founder of Mères au front, Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette never felt like she had to make a career choice.

“These are related professions, we decide to distinguish all these impulses, but in my opinion, there is a common link between these ways of expressing themselves, confides the filmmaker to whom we allocated the biggest budget for a woman in the history of Quebec for his film White dog. I chose the human, because everything that makes up humanity overwhelms me. These are all the ways that I have of going to meet the other. »

Her heritage of curiosity, fearless life and plurality, she owes it to her parents who forged her through confronting journeys and walks off the beaten track. Moreover, having talent in several disciplines can be learned, she believes.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCT

“Confidence is earned by putting your hands in it,” she says. I strongly believe in ideas and instinct. That’s the hardest part: trusting your instincts. »

Impossible to ignore the couple that she has formed for many years with Émile Proulx-Cloutier. “We made ourselves alongside each other, opening up to a lot of art forms from one must give permission to the other, says the 43-year-old author. We are well matched, because our fields of interest are multiple, but do not pile on top. We have projects together and others in parallel. »

To young women who dream of doing everything, she advises this: to find their own voice, without trying to imitate or please.

♦ Director Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette published river woman last October.

Guillaume Lambert

If we can appreciate the talent of Guillaume Lambert in various mediums, the 39-year-old artist explains with a laugh that it was first a question of “survival” in the artistic milieu. By accepting everything that was offered to him at the start of his career, he was able to get a good idea of ​​what made him vibrate, and these disciplines turned out to be multiple.

“My life is a long series of causes and effects, says the one who has no career plan. My naivety serves me well and I am very comfortable with adversity. I see myself as a Mario Bros, who must do everything to get from one table to another, and I’m not afraid of hard work. »

RISK APPETITE

Lit by projects that are also apprenticeships, he is driven by the desire to be an artist and not just a performer. And when a project scares him, it’s even better, because he says he’s drawn by the taste for risk.

“We can be whatever we want now,” continues the artist. It’s very motivating to be in this young generation. There has been a multiplication of formats and platforms in recent years, as well as a democratization of tools. Which is perfect, because I don’t want to repeat myself in life. »

Even as an author, Guillaume Lambert mixes things ingeniously – drama and humor. His signature is thus multiple. Does he experience impostor syndrome sometimes? “For a long time, I felt like an impostor as an actor,” he admits. Now, I like to think that I am an heir to Marc Labrèche, who has always done a bit of everything and who is an inspirational being of freedom. I am very happy in diversity. That surprises me. »

♦ The film by Guillaume Lambert, Niagarais offered on Club illico.