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Launching of Le Refus global

Broadcast Date: Oct. 21, 1998

On August 9, 1948, an attractive group of young artists and intellectuals gathered at a bookstore on Montreal's St. Catherine street.
They had come to launch an anti-religious and anti-establishment manifesto called Le Refus global (Total Refusal).
It was signed by 16 artists including painter Pierre Gauvreau, who recalled how he helped print copies of the original document in this clip.

(More on Le Refus global: CBC Archives)

The controversial booklet contained a number of essays, two short plays, drawings as well as photographs by different contributors but at its heart was the main text penned by painter and mentor Paul-Emile Borduas.
In Le Refus global, Borduas called for a total rejection of all conventional thinking and advocated a freedom of ideas.
It would become one of the most influential artistic and social documents in modern Quebec society.

Launching of Le Refus global

• The group, who called themselves the Automatists, includes world-renowned artists such as painter Jean-Paul Riopelle, Fernand Leduc and dancer Françoise Sullivan as well as Madeleine Arbour, Marcel Barbeau, Bruno Cormier, Claude Gauvreau, Pierre Gauvreau, Muriel Guilbault, Marcelle Ferron, Thérèse Leduc, Jean-Paul Mousseau, Maurice Perron, Louise Renaud, Françoise Riopelle.
• All 400 copies of le Refus global quickly sold out.

• The Automatists were inspired by their mentor Borduas, and influenced by French poet André Breton's stream-of-consciousness (automatic) style. They extolled the creative force of the subconscious.
• Pierre Gauvreau, who was 26 when he signed le Refus global in 1948, said the main message of the manifesto is that "God does not exist."

Also on August 9:
• 1988: Wayne Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings along with two other players. Gretzky played 10 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and helped the team win four Stanley Cups.

Launching of Le Refus global

Medium: Radio

Program: IDEAS

Broadcast Date: Oct. 21, 1998

Guest(s): Pierre Gauvreau

Host: Lister Sinclair
Reporter: Alan Conter

Duration: 2:04

Last updated:
June 15, 2007