On Shaving

a video by Denis Lessard, 2006-2008

The monks shall shave their beards every eight days. However, the Superior may allow some employees to shave more frequently. The monastic tonsure is done once a month...

This video is based on the rules applying traditionally to the shaving of Cistercian monks. The text is read by the artist and interspersed with portraits of monks from the archives of the abbey Our Lady of the Prairies, located near Holland, in southwestern Manitoba. This project was completed following the Language Hotel residency in December 2000 at the St. Norbert's Art Centre (SNAC) near Winnipeg, and a series of visits to the abbey Our Lady of the Prairies.