Standing in a grassy area in Parc Noël-Sud in Saint-Laurent Borough, Lieu (ou Fleur d’hiver) is a monumental modular sculpture – a form that the artist has used frequently since the 1960s. In this sculpture, the artist uses some 60 cylindrical and horizontal elements to form a grouping of columns, four of which are topped with curved stems reminiscent of flower petals.

The title of the work reflects the artist’s desire to imbue the site, to shape it through the presence of art. In Roussil’s view, these “sculptural elements . . . will delineate the space within which users of the park will be able to circulate . . . all year round, including the long winter months.” – Roussil, 1990 1

Through its forms, materials, and monumentality, the sculpture recalls Hommage à René Lévesque, created by Roussil during the same period. The combination of industrial materials and organic silhouettes in both cases provokes a radical transformation of the landscape in which the artwork is presented.

1. Excerpt of an interview conducted in Montréal by Yves Robillard and transcribed into the execution contract.

The work was created during Sculpture: Séduction 90, an event that took place in 16 Montréal Urban Community parks from 15 June to 30 September 1990. Organized by the Conseil de la sculpture du Québec, its goal was to present “a permanent itinerary of large-format sculptures integrated with the environment of municipal parks.”