Message from the Governor General
Photo: Sgt Serge Gouin, Rideau Hall/© 2009 Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada
What remains of civilizations through the ages? What constitutes the timeless heritage of humanity? More than anything, it is those traces, that collection of signs left by artists and artisans whose works, both tangible and intangible, have reached beyond time and are a priceless legacy.
The primary function of art has always been to produce benchmarks, to bring together unique points of view that represent the diversity of questions that women and men have asked themselves about the universe and our relationship with the world. But now, more than ever before, our artistic impulses can be expressed, shared and renewed in a multitude of ways. The technological revolution has given artists even more fascinating and accessible media.
The laureates of the 2009 Governor General’s Awards in Media and Visual Arts are at the forefront of the infinite possibilities open to today’s creative minds. Their free and pioneering spirit inspires and stirs our imagination. Their works invite us to dream and shed light on new dimensions that each of us defines by our own experience.
I am delighted to congratulate them for their contributions, as remarkable as they are essential, because the work they do reflects our present and gives voice to the future.
Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada
