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Host Claude Lafortune, who died in April 2020, marked generations of children with his shows The gospel on paper And Sun plots.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Produced by the Museum of World Cultures, Noah’s Ark according to Claude Lafortune was first presented in Nicolet, about five years ago, before traveling all over the province. This is the first time the exhibition has stopped in Montreal.
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Among the sculptures, we find, of course, the character of Noah, accompanied by two doves. The artist also imagined his wife, his sons, as well as about thirty animals.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Claude Lafortune liked to tell stories through his works, says Jean-François Royal, who befriended him when he was director of the Museum of World Cultures. In particular, they worked together on this exhibition as well as on the previous one, named Glue, paper, scissors.
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“The monkeys, he made them teasing. One pulls Madame Noé’s hair and the other eats her skirt,” gives the example of the man who is now general manager of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys historic site.
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How long did Claude Lafortune take to create a work? Jean-François Royal finds it difficult to answer this question since it varied a lot. Some were completed in four weeks, while others took five months to complete. In his sculptures, “it is the attention to detail that always impresses”, notes his friend.
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Moreover, if we look closely at the macaw, we notice that hundreds of scissors have been given to create its plumage. “Claude said that, for him, it was like making a mandala. […] It did him good, ”says Jean-François Royal.
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Some of the works presented in Montreal were loaned by the artist’s family and are not usually part of the exhibition. This is the case with this swan.
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A true paper artist, Claude Lafortune mastered a unique know-how. “He was the only one to do this technique, that is to sculpt and assemble the paper piece around a metal structure. There is no other artist who does that”, emphasizes Jean-François Royal.
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Although the exhibition depicts a biblical character, the general director of the museum is convinced that it can reach a wide audience. “Noah, it’s a fable. We must go beyond the religious symbol. […] It’s really the story of a renewal, of a second chance,” he says.
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Noah’s Ark according to Claude Lafortune is free for ages 12 and under. On the historic site, you can also visit the permanent exhibition on Marguerite Bourgeoys as well as the archaeological site, located under the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel.