GLOSSOLALIA
Franco-Ontarian artist Laurent L. Vaillancourt unveils Glossolalia, a conceptual and performative work that stands out as his latest artistic creation. Carried out over a period of one year, this project explores instinctive language, automatism and spontaneous expression through a series of publications that have now become a printed installation.
The term "glossolalia" literally means "to speak in tongues". It refers to a form of expression composed of sounds or words with no apparent meaning, often associated with a spiritual or mystical inspiration. In some Pentecostal Christian traditions, speaking in tongues is considered an important spiritual manifestation. But beyond its religious dimension, glossolalia also affects artistic creation, automatic writing and freedom of language. Speaking in tongues sometimes means simply letting sounds, rhythms and intuitions emerge without trying to rationalize them.
Between December 2024 and December 2025, Laurent L. Vaillancourt published a series of 26 works on Facebook, at intervals of about two weeks. Each publication began with a letter of the alphabet, creating an artistic progression spread over 52 weeks. The creations were then printed in 9 x 7 inch format and mounted on foamcore, transforming this digital performance into a physical and visual work. This artistic approach is situated on the border between visual poetry, contemporary performance and automatic writing. It also testifies to a desire to slow down the pace of creation in order to make room for intuition and the spontaneous emergence of shapes and sounds.
Laurent L. Vaillancourt
Through Glossolalia, Laurent L. Vaillancourt asserts a singular artistic approach in the Franco-Ontarian cultural landscape. This latest work shows a deep interest in the spirituality of language, automatism and creative freedom. By merging performance, intuitive writing and visual art, the Hearst-based artist offers a work that questions our relationship to words, meaning and inner expression.
Biography
For more than 50 years, Laurent Vaillancourt has been an agent of change in the Francophone arts scene in Ontario's small communities. In his projects, he rethinks the exhibition space to push the limits. His work, resolutely assumed as coming from her place of origin, explores Francophone identity with strategies that promote mutual understanding and highlight a plural identity. His work in small, isolated towns helped shape, as the 19th century phrase goes, "New Ontario." His work testifies that an artist can not only establish himself in the North but also renew himself there and, more significantly, be part of the major currents of contemporary art, produce a relevant work, in tune with his time.