The 16th edition of the Montreal-based HTMlles festival is concluding its month-long exhibition, “On a Human Scale,” at the feminist artist-run centre Ada X. Curated by Dounia Bouzidi, the show features works by artists Fili 周 Gibbons, Hailey Guzik, Lee Wilkins, and Nada El Omari, exploring the experiences of people historically excluded from visibility and power. Gibbons’ piece, Cloud Well, honors their grandparents through video and sound from a trip to Taiwan, while Bouzidi emphasizes decolonial and diasporic curatorial approaches.
The exhibition matters as it highlights the role of feminist media arts festivals in creating inclusive spaces for marginalized voices, particularly in the context of technology and rest. Bouzidi’s career trajectory—navigating rejections and finding her first institutional invitation at Ada X—reflects broader challenges faced by emerging curators. Gibbons’ shift from cello to interdisciplinary installation underscores the evolving nature of contemporary art practice, while the festival’s focus on community and self-care offers a counterpoint to fast-paced digital culture.