The language of Jean-Pierre Morin’s artworks is inspired by the forms of the ogive, the flint, points, and projectiles, as well as natural forms with pointed ends: flames, leaves, lightning bolts, and stars. In La pierre et le feu, the edges are precise and cut into the space like a graffito evoking the energy and strength of fire. In Morin’s sculptures, fragile elements and abrupt, unstable phenomena acquire extraordinary scale, weight, presence, and duration. The natural relations of force are reversed.

Discussing this artwork, Morin spoke of the course of certain celestial bodies. The moment when material is consumed may be that when a fragment of asteroid bursts into flame as it enters Earth’s atmosphere. Morin has also indicated that as a child, he was fascinated by the incandescent metal and the sparks that flew under the blacksmith’s hammer in the village where he was born.

The artwork was created for the first Lachine, Carrefour de l’Art et de l’Industrie sculpture symposium in the summer of 1985. Organized by the Société de diffusion internationale et de placement sur œuvres d’art (Sodip-Art), the event brought together eight sculptors each of whom produced a monumental sculpture on site as the public watched.