This text is part of the special section C’est l’été
At the bend of a street or planted in the historic site of the Bois-de-Coulonge park, ephemeral art will be everywhere in the Old Capital.
A first in Quebec
The Mosaïcultures promise the most spectacular exhibition in 20 years and are taking place for the first time in Quebec City, from June 24 to October 10, at Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge. The Mosaïcultures internationales de Montréal corporation has existed since 1999. It has organized 5 international competitions, 7 exhibitions and produced more than 100 works in some twenty countries.
Under the theme Once upon a time… the Earth, the exhibition offers 200 works (80% unpublished) grouped in 20 paintings created with more than 6 million plants by the hundred or so horticulturists hard at work. A special tribute was paid to the Huron-Wendat culture, through the integration of Aboriginal elements in one of the paintings and the participation of the Council of the Huron-Wendat Nation, which organized a competition among Wendat artists for the production of two frescoes of 45 square meters.
On the historic site of the Bois-de-Coulonge park, on the edge of the Sillery cliff, the course takes place in five stages. The pergola represents the Lieutenant-Governor’s house, which has now disappeared, and at its feet, gigantic butterflies and a large turtle. The visitor then explores the Arctic and Antarctic world and their emblematic animals: polar bear, albatross, whale, etc. The third station presents the planet’s endangered species, while the fourth gives space to the Huron-Wendat nation: arches inspired by the longhouse, frescoes, vegetable garden featuring “the three sisters”, i.e. squash, beans and corn. The tour ends with the painting “La ferme”, which depicts Elzéard Bouffier, “the man who planted trees”, surrounded by goats, horses, rabbits and his sheepdog.
Art on every street corner
Exmuro organizes, in collaboration with the City of Quebec, the 9e edition of Passages insolites. Visitors and city dwellers alike will be able to admire the ephemeral works of art by 19 artists, from June 25 to October 10, as they stroll through the old town. Inserting themselves into the city, the works surprise the visitor, injecting magic into the urban setting, and propagating “a true culture of the unusual”. The complete program will be unveiled shortly.
This year, the route is concentrated in the areas of Place Royale, Petit-Champlain and the Old Port, from the Îlot des Palais to the ferry, for a total of 2.3 km. Thanks to this concentrated route, visitors will be able to discover all the works more easily. Several artists in this edition address current socio-political issues: environment, decolonization, geopolitics. The works in the public space make it possible to initiate a reflection, an encounter and a reconciliation around these burning questions.
The artist Gabrielle Laïla Tittley, alias Pony, has been appointed as the first ambassador in the history of Passages insolites. For this committed artist, sponsoring an event like Passages insolites, which makes art accessible, went without saying. She will host the podcast Thirst for the unusual, where she will highlight in twenty capsules the work and the intention of the artists of the 2022 edition, as well as her favorites. Gabrielle Laïla Tittley also designed the official jersey for the event, and will take part in a guided tour during the launch on June 25.