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Ville de Montréal

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Gilles Boisvert

Vire au vent

1988
Presentation of the artwork
Situated in Parc René-Lévesque, at the juncture of Lake Saint-Louis, the river, and the seaway, the artwork is a wind-vane sculpture whose elements are inspired by tools for navigation. The base is shaped like a buoy or lighthouse. At the top, a large red frame, oriented exactly north–south, both serves as a compass rose and defines the horizon. Within the frame is a mobile silhouette of a series of human figures, depicting a person walking. Attached to its back is a series of juxtaposed rectangles that form a bird’s wing; the wing catches the wind and causes the silhouette to pivot on an axis. As it always faces the wind, the human figure becomes a wind vane. The wing motif is repeated on the four faces of the base. The walking person is a recurrent figure in Gilles Boisvert’s artworks. Here, the tableau is deconstructed: the figure is leaving the frame to explore the world.
Associated events
Produced during the Un Lieu sculpture symposium in Lachine, the artwork was then bequeathed to the Ville de Lachine by Centre des arts contemporains du Québec à Montréal.
Gilles Boisvert
Gilles Boisvert studied at the École des beaux-arts de Montréal in 1958 and 1959. He then completed his training with various internships, notably with Albert Dumouchel. In 1966, he participated in the group exhibition Présence des jeunes, at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. During his career, he produced numerous public art projects, including Les oiseaux (1973), a mural measuring 27 m by 3 m at the Maison de Radio-Canada in Montréal. His works have been in almost 200 solo and group exhibitions.
Awards and honours
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1969
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1976
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1978
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1985
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1987
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1990
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1967
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1969
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1970
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1972
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1974
Presentation of the artwork
Situated in Parc René-Lévesque, at the juncture of Lake Saint-Louis, the river, and the seaway, the artwork is a wind-vane sculpture whose elements are inspired by tools for navigation. The base is shaped like a buoy or lighthouse. At the top, a large red frame, oriented exactly north–south, both serves as a compass rose and defines the horizon. Within the frame is a mobile silhouette of a series of human figures, depicting a person walking. Attached to its back is a series of juxtaposed rectangles that form a bird’s wing; the wing catches the wind and causes the silhouette to pivot on an axis. As it always faces the wind, the human figure becomes a wind vane. The wing motif is repeated on the four faces of the base. The walking person is a recurrent figure in Gilles Boisvert’s artworks. Here, the tableau is deconstructed: the figure is leaving the frame to explore the world.
Associated events
Produced during the Un Lieu sculpture symposium in Lachine, the artwork was then bequeathed to the Ville de Lachine by Centre des arts contemporains du Québec à Montréal.
Gilles Boisvert
Gilles Boisvert studied at the École des beaux-arts de Montréal in 1958 and 1959. He then completed his training with various internships, notably with Albert Dumouchel. In 1966, he participated in the group exhibition Présence des jeunes, at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. During his career, he produced numerous public art projects, including Les oiseaux (1973), a mural measuring 27 m by 3 m at the Maison de Radio-Canada in Montréal. His works have been in almost 200 solo and group exhibitions.
Awards and honours
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1969
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1976
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1978
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1985
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1987
  • Subventions et bourses du Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec, 1990
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1967
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1969
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1970
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1972
  • Subventions et bourses du Conseil des Arts du Canada, 1974
Details
Category
Fine Arts
Subcategory
Sculpture
Collection name
Public art
Date completed
1988
Mode of acquisition
Transfer
Accession date
January 1, 2002
Technique(s)
Welding; bolting; painted
Materials
Raw steel, painted steel
General dimensions
495 x 610 x 295 cm
Manufacturer
  • Boisvert, Gilles
Vire au vent
Borough
Lachine
Park
Parc René-Lévesque