Jules Lasalle
Forces
1986
Presentation of the artwork
The sculpture, which seems to emerge from the ground, is installed in a grassy space beside the building. It portrays a closed fist holding three cables. The fist is made of cast white Portland concrete, imbedded with aggregates of silica and white marble, and the three cables are made of stainless steel.Forces symbolizes the strength of labour and the commitment by Ciment Canada Lafarge to the construction sector. In 1986, the company was one of the two main sponsors of the Lachine sculpture symposium. In fact, the mixture of cast concrete used for the artwork was produced in collaboration with the research centre at Ciment Canada Lafarge, which was situated at 6150 Avenue Royalmount, where the artwork is installed. The steel cables may also be interpreted as a reference to the widespread use of such cables in construction, especially in the processes of making pre-stressed and post-stressed concrete.
Associated events
Forces was produced on the occasion of the second Symposium de la sculpture de Lachine, “L’an II – Lachine, carrefour de l’art et de l’industrie,” an event organized by the Lachine Canal in summer 1986. 
Crédit photo: Guy L'Heureux, 2015
Jules Lasalle
Sculptor and modeller Jules Lasalle lives and works in Montréal, where he directs the studio Attitude enr. In 1979, he completed a bachelor’s degree in visual arts at the Université du Québec à Montréal. From 1981 to 1983, he undertook a number of sculpture internships in Paris at establishments such as the École nationale supérieure des arts appliqués, Les Ateliers Hervé Cappelli, and the Ministère de la Culture. He has produced a number of other works of public art in Montréal, including Hommage à Marguerite Bourgeoys (1988), on Rue Notre-Dame East, and Monument à Maurice Richard (1997), at the entrance to the eponymous arena.
Presentation of the artwork
The sculpture, which seems to emerge from the ground, is installed in a grassy space beside the building. It portrays a closed fist holding three cables. The fist is made of cast white Portland concrete, imbedded with aggregates of silica and white marble, and the three cables are made of stainless steel.Forces symbolizes the strength of labour and the commitment by Ciment Canada Lafarge to the construction sector. In 1986, the company was one of the two main sponsors of the Lachine sculpture symposium. In fact, the mixture of cast concrete used for the artwork was produced in collaboration with the research centre at Ciment Canada Lafarge, which was situated at 6150 Avenue Royalmount, where the artwork is installed. The steel cables may also be interpreted as a reference to the widespread use of such cables in construction, especially in the processes of making pre-stressed and post-stressed concrete.
Associated events
Forces was produced on the occasion of the second Symposium de la sculpture de Lachine, “L’an II – Lachine, carrefour de l’art et de l’industrie,” an event organized by the Lachine Canal in summer 1986.
Jules Lasalle
Sculptor and modeller Jules Lasalle lives and works in Montréal, where he directs the studio Attitude enr. In 1979, he completed a bachelor’s degree in visual arts at the Université du Québec à Montréal. From 1981 to 1983, he undertook a number of sculpture internships in Paris at establishments such as the École nationale supérieure des arts appliqués, Les Ateliers Hervé Cappelli, and the Ministère de la Culture. He has produced a number of other works of public art in Montréal, including Hommage à Marguerite Bourgeoys (1988), on Rue Notre-Dame East, and Monument à Maurice Richard (1997), at the entrance to the eponymous arena.
