Live Art Performance by the Artist Duo SOLONOI at Artexpo New York 2024
Art is a form of expression that transcends boundaries, and the story of SOLONOI is a testament to this. The SOLONOI project was created by two established artists based in Montreal, Canada. While they share similar values and are drawn to similar aesthetics, their unique styles bear the traces of their distinct stories and backgrounds. The duo’s latest live art performance at Artexpo New York 2024 serves as proof of their artistic integrity and dedication to the shared vision.
Live Art Performance by the Artist Duo SOLONOI at Artexpo New York 2024
SOLONOI is an artist duo made up of “The Chemist” (Emile Vidmar) and “Mr. Pink” (Pascal Vaillancourt), who are also known by their respective pseudonyms “Em” and “Paco.” When they attend art shows and perform as a collective, they are dressed in decorated orange jumpsuits and handcuffed to each other. At Artexpo New York 2024, the two artists created a new work of art right in the exhibition venue in front of hundreds of people while being handcuffed to each other.
Both creatives have been building their separate artistic careers for years: “The Chemist” is a mural painter, and “Mr. Pink” is a stencil artist. When they come together, their styles fit perfectly within one artwork while retaining their unique qualities. They create collaboratively yet separately: both have their own canvas that they work on simultaneously. This artistic process results in two extraordinary artworks that can only be acquired as a single piece.
The idea behind the project appeared during Miami Art Week 2023 when Em and Paco presented their artworks at Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most influential art fairs in the world. They also held a live art performance right in front of The Gabriel Miami South Beach Hotel. This was when the SOLONOI story began. The two artists have since worked on numerous pieces and are planning to exhibit them throughout the entirety of 2024. In May, SOLONOI is opening the “Sabotage 49” art gallery in Montreal, Canada. The artists also have several exhibitions planned across North and South America.
Whether you see SOLONOI as a duo or one artist, as intended, it is impossible to deny that the vibrant personalities of the two creatives shine through every piece they make together with equal force. That is only fair — after all, the name of the project is a direct reference to the harmonious collaboration of two artistic forces that come together to create a unified work of art.