Les dessous de Fugues | Quebec Gay Archives

A history of Fugues, through a selection of covers which have contributed to shaping the image of the magazine which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024.

Last April, Fugues became the first French-speaking LGBTQ+ media in the world to pass 40 years of existence. As part of this anniversary, the LES DESSOUS DE FUGUES exhibition looks at the history behind some of the most striking covers of FUGUES magazine and shows us the evolution of the magazine over the years.

The perspective of photographers and illustrators who helped shape the Fugues brand image is also put into perspective to summarize 40 years of queer history. From Robert Laliberté (to whom we owe 175 covers), to Josée B, Fotofusion, Perry Sénécal and Johan Jannson — to name just a few — they have all contributed to the aesthetic of the magazine.
It is obviously a question of firsts: first cover, first women to appear solo, first couple, first trans people, first non-binary person... But also the evolution of the treatment of certain themes addressed on the front page, including those of the fight against HIV, same-sex parenting and the couple.

Obviously a section of the exhibition is interested in the different ways in which the magazine has approached Pride and the countless festive parties or popular dances.

The exhibition shows how much everything has changed over the years: from design to the choice of images, from dress codes to the very style of the magazine itself (and its size), the number of titles appearing on the cover, the positions of the subjects photographed and the eroticism with which we sometimes play.

An evolution which also expresses, in a certain way, cultural changes and our way of perceiving ourselves as community(ies).

WHEN AND WHERE: From July 25 to early September 2024
At the Archives Gaies du Québec, 1000, Atateken, #201-A, Montréal, Québec H2L 3K4