CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 137 Ï NUMBER 156 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 14, 2002 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire´´ at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 9621 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 14, 2002 The House met at 10 a.m. works are found in all major galleries in Canada and in galleries and private collections around the world. Prayers Born in Montreal in 1923, Mr. Riopelle spent most of his life in France, but he made regular trips to Canada. He returned some years ago to live beside the St. Lawrence River, from which he drew ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS inspiration for his last creative period. Ï (1000) Mr. Riopelle also drew inspiration from the waters around France [Translation] where he often sailed on his Sérica, previously owned by Henri Matisse. The Government of Canada has recently been able to assist GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS the Musée maritime du Québec in acquiring, restoring and Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of interpreting this early twentieth century sailboat which can now be the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, seen at the Musée. pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition. Just this past year, the government was pleased to be able to help the Musée du Québec with the acquisition of Mr. Riopelle's 1951 *** work Espagne. It also helped with the acquisition of 92 of his Ï (1005) paintings, recognizing their international value. INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS Our programs recently made it possible to put together for the first Mr. Benoît Sauvageau (Repentigny, BQ): Mr. Speaker, pursuant time a collection of 20 very important works by Mr. Riopelle and to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to table in the House, in exhibit them in New Brunswick and Ontario. both official languages, the report of the Canadian section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, and the financial In recognition of his enormous artistic contribution to Canada and report relating to it. the world, Mr. Riopelle was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1969 and his name was inscribed on the Canadian Walk of The report refers to the meeting of the APF's Commission de Fame in 2000. l'éducation, de la communication et des affaires culturelles, which took place in Alexandria, Egypt, from February 10-13, 2002. Today we mourn the loss of this artist who has bequeathed to us such an extraordinary body of work. On behalf of the Government of I would like to thank Guyanne Desforges for her professional Canada, I want to tell his companion and his daughter that his loss is work in preparation for this mission, and her significant contribution a loss for the entire country. We offer our sincerest condolences to in preparing this report. his family and friends and especially to the artistic community, which can never really replace this great international talent. *** JEAN-PAUL RIOPELLE [English] Hon. Sheila Copps (Minister of Canadian Heritage, Lib.): Mr. Mr. Jim Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia, Canadian Alliance): Speaker, it is with regret that we learned of the death Tuesday Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Her Majesty's official loyal evening of international artist Jean-Paul Riopelle, who died at his opposition in response to the unfortunate passing of Mr. Riopelle. home in Île aux Grues at the age of 78. Yesterday we honoured Herb Gray who, in his own way, brought A painter and sculptor, Jean-Paul Riopelle was one of those a very special character to politics in his devotion to Canada. Canadians who put our country on the artistic map, not just here at home but around the world. Mr. Riopelle emerged as a true Today, as we think about Jean-Paul Riopelle, we recognize that in international visual arts celebrity during the nineteen fifties. As one Canada, no matter what the arena, we have some giants. Clearly, of the group of artists who became known as the “automatistes”, he from the research I have done on Mr. Riopelle, he was just exactly had an extraordinary influence on the visual arts internationally. His that. 9622 COMMONS DEBATES March 14, 2002 Routine Proceedings I would like to take just a slightly different tack to an ordinary We are saddened by his departure, but I am very pleased that the approach. I would like to look at some of the techniques, the Quebec government decided to honour him on Monday by technical aspects, of what he brought to us. I am reading from The organizing a state funeral for this man who marked Quebec's history Canadian Encyclopedia where it states: forever. Under the influence of surrealism, with its emphasis on the “liberation of the Ï (1015) human spirit,” Riopelle moved from figurative painting to the gestural abstractions for which he is now famous. After WWII, against the growing standardization and [English] depersonalization of industrial capitalism, Riopelle's paintings were characterized by Ms. Wendy Lill (Dartmouth, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I rise today on personal improvisation and “raw” gestures that attested to the uniquely human behalf of the New Democratic Party of Canada to recognize the process by which they were made. To increase the spontaneity of his art, he used several experimental techniques: supple gestural brushstrokes...; the controlled drip passing of one of Quebec's and Canada's most recognized artists, technique of squeezing paint directly from the tube onto the canvas...; and, in the Jean-Paul Riopelle, at his home in Île-aux-Grues. early 1950s, the use of the palette knife to create mosaiclike surfaces of paint—a hallmark of his later style. It was a pleasure to hear the hon. member for Laurentides offer her personal recollections and images of the man. It added to the The reason I read from this rather technical description of art— memorable occasion this morning. and of course art cannot be broken down simply into techniques-was to show the creativeness of this individual. It is fair to say Riopelle was to Canadian painting and sculpture what Glen Gould was to Canadian music. He was a beacon of I would concur with the minister of heritage that truly Canada has creation to others in his craft. His art was a direct expression through lost a giant in the field of art. He was certainly a tremendous credit to his hands of the subconscious feelings in his soul. Monsieur all of us as Canadians. Our country mourns his loss. Riopelle's work takes one's breath away. Raw emotions leak from the Ï (1010) canvas into one's brain. Like great artists, he saw the world differently. He used his paint to speak to us, express emotions and [Translation] share with us the briefest glimpse of his vision of the world. Ms. Monique Guay (Laurentides, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I am very honoured, but also sad to rise today to mark the passing of a great Riopelle was part of a group called the Automatistes whose man, a great Quebecer and a great international painter, Jean-Paul members believed in the spontaneous transcriptions onto canvas of Riopelle. whatever one's spirit suggested. Riopelle carried that spontaneity into his daily life. Even when his work returned to the realist form of This is a very special occasion for me, because Jean-Paul Riopelle painting his artistic contributions continued. lived for a very long time in the riding of Laurentides, in Sainte- Riopelle was a clear example to the world that Canadians cannot Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson. One of his very close friends, who is only create. We produce a unique perspective and have developed a also a friend of mine, has a small bistro, the Bistrot à Champlain, and standard of artistic excellence for which we should never apologize. he has several paintings that Jean-Paul Riopelle gave him as Jean-Paul Riopelle never did. presents. Indeed, Jean-Paul would regularly give him paintings, to make himself happy. We salute a great Canadian artist today. Jean-Paul Riopelle was very attached to his friends. Friendship Mr. Grant McNally (Dewdney—Alouette, PC/DR): Mr. Speak- was sacred for him. Needless to say that he is leaving behind very er, I rise today to join in the tribute to Jean-Paul Riopelle. close and long time friends who are very saddened by his death. Riopelle was born and raised in Montreal. The son of a building contractor and amateur architect, he developed a love and I would like to quote Jean-Paul Riopelle, who was an exceptional appreciation for art as a young boy. His studies and career led him human being: to leave his home province of Quebec for Paris where his works If I am asked how long it takes to do a painting, I cannot answer. I often walk into received international acclaim and played an important role in my studio—in fact I go almost every day—open the door and shut it again, because I getting Canadian painting recognized beyond our borders. cannot do anything. But when I am on, time does not matter; I may come out 10 or 20 hours later, but in a different state. Riopelle is considered one of Canada's greatest painters. He holds I would also like to quote François-Marc Gagnon, from the the distinction of being the first Canadian to have a canvas sell for Université de Montréal, who said: more than $1 million.