Photos: Daniel Paquet
My Journey
My artistic approach revolves around the search for blind spots to reveal their liveliness. Photography allows me to access different perceptions, different points of view. The eye of the lens has the ability to move away from reality and see the world in new light.
I like to tackle various themes ranging from the migratory experience to plural identity, through culinary heritage, or cultural and voluntary exile. My approach is deeply marked by my Francophone identity which naturally integrates elements of culture and language.
The creative process
The tools I use to express myself
Writing
The word is my preferred medium. I love to manipulate and rearrange the language to explore all of its senses.
Photography
Photography is poetry that speaks for itself. Images are much more meaningful metaphors for me than the words themselves.
Visual Arts
Visual art for me is staging. The meeting of my passions, the word and the image, forming a whole, a story, a visual framework.
Overview of my works
Exhibitions
Échos – Ré:flexions (Saskatoon, SK)
Photographic installation at the BAM Gallery, in Saskatoon, as part of the Mentoring and visibility project of the Conseil culturel fransaskois (June 2020)
Il était une fois… Galerie tresart (Durham, Québec)
5 photographic works presented as part of a collective exhibition (January to March 2019)
Ré-créations – 2019 Nuit Blanche (Regina, SK)
Photographic projection during the Nuit Blanche festival. Photographic exploration through the prism of the mirror which distorts reality while revealing its beauties.
À fleur d’âge – 2018 Collection of photographic poetry
The culmination of Banff's exploratory work. Photographic and poetic installation (mosaic mural and collage) on our relationship to food from a cultural point of view.
La main à la bouche – 2018 Université de Regina
The culmination of Banff's exploratory work. Photographic and poetic installation (mosaic mural and collage) on our relationship to food from a cultural point of view.
Fragments de pollinisation – 2017 New Dance Horizons (Regina, SK)
Special collection for the Secret Gardens Tour of New Dance Horizons, exhibition at the John Paul II Chapel.
Héritage culinaire – 2017 Installation exploratoire (Banff Centre, AB)
Exploratory work and installation with visual arts mentor Diane Gougeon at the Banff Creative and Professional Development Center.
Fragments d’identité – 2016 Université de Regina
Solo photographic installation presenting around sixty bottled photos and poems
Embouteillées – 2015 Galerie Joe Fafard (Regina, SK)
Presentation of six bottles during a group exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Association canadienne-française de Regina.
Overview of my works
Exhibitions
Échos – Ré:flexions (Saskatoon, SK)
Photographic installation at the BAM Gallery, in Saskatoon, as part of the Mentoring and visibility project of the Conseil culturel fransaskois (June 2020)
Il était une fois… Galerie tresart (Durham, Québec)
5 photographic works presented as part of a collective exhibition (January to March 2019)
Ré-créations – 2019 Nuit Blanche (Regina, SK)
Photographic projection during the Nuit Blanche festival. Photographic exploration through the prism of the mirror which distorts reality while revealing its beauties.
À fleur d’âge – 2018 Collection of photographic poetry
The culmination of Banff's exploratory work. Photographic and poetic installation (mosaic mural and collage) on our relationship to food from a cultural point of view.
La main à la bouche – 2018 Université de Regina
The culmination of Banff's exploratory work. Photographic and poetic installation (mosaic mural and collage) on our relationship to food from a cultural point of view.
Fragments de pollinisation – 2017 New Dance Horizons (Regina, SK)
Special collection for the Secret Gardens Tour of New Dance Horizons, exhibition at the John Paul II Chapel.
Héritage culinaire – 2017 Installation exploratoire (Banff Centre, AB)
Exploratory work and installation with visual arts mentor Diane Gougeon at the Banff Creative and Professional Development Center.
Fragments d’identité – 2016 Université de Regina
Solo photographic installation presenting around sixty bottled photos and poems
Embouteillées – 2015 Galerie Joe Fafard (Regina, SK)
Presentation of six bottles during a group exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Association canadienne-française de Regina.
What people are saying
Media Highlights
L'Eau Vive - Journalism Award Nomination for Estelle Bonetto
Estelle Bonetto was recently nominated for the Prix d'excellence de la presse francophone 2021 for her Arts and Culture article "La parité derrière les tables de mixage", an article dealing with parity behind the turntables as women DJs turned the tables at Regina's The Cure Club on Saturday March 7 during the Divas on the Decks event, an evening highlighting International Women's Day on March 8 and the strong female influence on a stage marked by its inclusiveness.
Radio Canada - Estelle Bonetto
French CBC interview on Pour faire un monde (To make a world) during the release of the collection of photographic poetry "À fleur d’âge".
L'Eau Vive - Estelle Bonetto et quelques Fragments d'identité
Estelle Bonetto’s "fragments of identity" works consists of a series of 60 glass bottles, images, poetic texts and organic materials which she used to bring out the multiple facets of the Self in an archipelago.
Launch of "À fleur d'âge"
This collection is one of photographic poetry where the photographic and poetic installation concentrates on people's relationship to food from a cultural point of view.
Échos - Artist's collective
As part of the Mentoring and Visibility of Fransaskois Artists program, the collective exhibition Échos concluded months of preparation and exploration alongside curator Serge Murphy. The Covid-19 pandemic influenced the project as the exhibition had to adapt to the many hazards of distancing.
What people are saying
Media Highlights
L'Eau Vive - Journalism Award for Estelle Bonetto
Estelle Bonetto was recently awarded the Prix d'excellence de la presse francophone 2021 for her Arts and Culture article "La parité derrière les tables de mixage", an article dealing with parity behind the turntables as women DJs turned the tables at Regina's The Cure Club on Saturday March 7 during the Divas on the Decks event, an evening highlighting International Women's Day on March 8 and the strong female influence on a stage marked by its inclusiveness.
Radio Canada - Estelle Bonetto
French CBC interview on Pour faire un monde (To make a world) during the release of the collection of photographic poetry "À fleur d’âge".
L'Eau Vive - Estelle Bonetto et quelques Fragments d'identité
Estelle Bonetto’s "fragments of identity" works consists of a series of 60 glass bottles, images, poetic texts and organic materials which she used to bring out the multiple facets of the Self in an archipelago.
Launch of "À fleur d'âge"
This collection is one of photographic poetry where the photographic and poetic installation concentrates on people's relationship to food from a cultural point of view.
Échos - Artist's collective
As part of the Mentoring and Visibility of Fransaskois Artists program, the collective exhibition Échos concluded months of preparation and exploration alongside curator Serge Murphy. The Covid-19 pandemic influenced the project as the exhibition had to adapt to the many hazards of distancing.