Like a theatre stage, the granite slabs of Le Parterre present an interplay of three vertical sculptures to passersby. Directly inspired by the cultural institutions that surround it, the triptych of sculptures created by Gilles Mihalcean express variations around the performance arts. Like a music score or a choreography, the components common to the three works are orchestrated in a constantly changing way. These freely assembled objects (including a dance shoe, an accordion, and a guitar) are highlighted with patches of colour and sprinkled with unexpected objects (a chicken, a log, and an airplane, among others). The contrasts allow for a multitude of interpretations and associations of ideas, and they invite our imagination to a show in this location devoted to hosting various types of performances every year.

Quotation: “As an abstract arrangement of figurative and recognizable elements, my work encourages associations of ideas, which are never the same from person to person.” Gilles Mihalcean

Paquets de lumière was produced following a Québec-wide competition by public notice held in 2016. Integrated into Le Parterre, a public plaza beside Place des Arts, this work contributes to the neighbourhood-revitalization strategy. With its adaptability and privileged geographic siting, Le Parterre, designed by Daoust Lestage, is both an ideal location for festivals and a place for people visiting the downtown area to relax. The work is a bequest by the Gouvernement du Québec for the 375th anniversary of the foundation of Montréal.