Client: Sainte-Justine, Montreal Children Hospital
Location: Montréal, QC, Canada
Completion date: 2016
Artwork budget: $150,000
Project Team
Industry Resource
Jean-François Gagnon
Atelier du Bronze Denis-Gagnon
Architect
Jean-Pierre Letourneux
Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architects
Public Art Agent
Ministry of Culture and Communications, Integration of Arts and Architecture, 1%
Overview
Aluminium, paint, variables dimensions. Entirely made of aluminium, the work is fragmented into 7 parts. Designed like « totems », the sculptures represent the different figures found inside the reception panel. Superimposed on each other, they are made up of geometric shapes, animals, objects and the environment associated with them. However, there is something wrong…. It seems that they are not presented in a logical order and that they are playing hide and seek. Children and visitors are then invited to look for them, identify them or simply discover them, by chance. Colorful, they are very visible and easy to recognize. Like landmarks, they surprise more than one and even guide some visitors. Totems are primarily emblems, protectors or lucky charms. For the scouts, they can also be rallying signs – In doing so, these « sculpture-totems » become sorts of protectors for sick children.
Goals
This work was created for a Montreal Children Hospital (Sainte-Justine Hospital), and intended to be a fun and uplifting experience for the children who spend time in this hospital.
Process
I worked with the foundry "L'atelier du Bronze Denis Gagnon" to create and assemble the pieces.
Additional Information
This work does a lot of good for children, but also for parents. I've received a lot of comments and testimonials from parents who tell me how much the works made them forget their pain for a little while.