The second part of Michel Goulet’s Les leçons singulières is composed of six unmatched chairs and a table-sculpture reproducing the relief features of Parc La Fontaine. The sculptural grouping, made of bronze and stainless steel, stands out for its accessibility. These artefacts of daily life, skilfully diverted from their primary functions, enhance the experience of the site. The chairs, arranged in an arc facing the park, offer a breathtaking view of nature, whereas the map provides orientation.

The objects that personalize the chairs also reflect citizens’ use of the site. A newspaper, shoes, a ball, binoculars, and a lunch bag remind viewers that the park is a common site, a shared space encouraging ritual experiences such as sociability, friendliness, and encounters. The artist considers the artwork “a metaphor for the relationships among people and peoples in their sharing of space and their perception of it.”

The installation in the Léo-Ayotte belvedere constituted the second part of a public art project begun in 1989, the first launched since the adoption that year of the Ville de Montréal’s action plan respecting public art. The other part of Goulet’s work is in Place Roy.