Daniel Dion

Born in Montreal, Daniel Dion (1958-2014) is an artist whose work spans photography, video, performance, and installation. Initially pursuing studies in communications at the Université du Québec à Montréal, he quickly shifted focus to an artistic career. A self-taught creator, Dion began producing videos and performances in the late 1970s, frequently collaborating with Philippe Poloni, Daniel Guimond, and Alain Bertrand. Together, they embraced an iconoclastic aesthetic that defined this new generation of artists. The duo Dion/Poloni will be particularly prolific, producing eleven videograms.

In 1982, Dion co-founded OBORO with Su Schnee, an artist-run center and new media production space in Montreal. In 1993, the National Gallery of Canada dedicated an exhibition to his monobands and installation works, later incorporating them into its permanent collection. His work has been exhibited across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Throughout his career, Dion initiated several transcultural exchange projects between Canada, India, Mexico, Cuba, and Japan. Deeply committed to defending artists’ rights and supporting the production and dissemination of their works both domestically and internationally, Dion played a key role in the development of media and digital arts in Quebec from the very beginning of his career. [Source: VOX, 2025]