MONTREAL,
Sept. 8, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank is proud
to inaugurate Bleu de bleu. Created by Quebec artist Alain
Paiement, the installation can now be viewed on a major
stretch of Autoroute 20, between the Dorval Circle and the 1st
Avenue overpass.
Commissioned by National Bank to celebrate Montreal's 375th anniversary, the piece
transforms the stretch connecting the airport to downtown with the
panache associated with Montreal.
Bleu de bleu was made possible thanks to the support of
several key partners.
Highlights
- The project was entirely funded through private donations
totalling $3.2 million.
- The installation will remain in place for approximately 5
years.
- Bleu de bleu is designed to evoke the shores of the St.
Lawrence River. The installation changes and grows more complex as
it adapts to the changing cityscape that surrounds it. Some
sections are lit by blue LED lights.
- The installation was designed to offer distinctive evening and
daytime experiences.
- It took 20 workers 1,000 hours over a 4-month period to create,
mount and install the piece.
- Some 290,000 motorists and travellers use the stretch of
Autoroute 20 displaying the installation every day and 13 million
people pass through the airport each year.
Quotes
"Montreal at 375 is just as
dynamic and innovative as it's always been. People visiting the
city will be able to witness the city's vibrancy when they see
Bleu de bleu. Thanks to all our partners from the artistic
and business communities, as well as local decision-makers, whose
enthusiasm ensures that Montreal
continues to stand out as a truly unique city in every way,"
Louis Vachon, President and Chief
Executive Officer of National Bank.
"Bleu de bleu is a tribute to one of our city's greatest
assets—its proximity to the St-Lawrence River. On behalf of the
government of Quebec, I commend
this initiative by National Bank to share a symbol of creativity
with the millions of visitors who come to our city each year and
with the Montrealers who use Autoroute 20 each day," Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs
and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister
responsible for the Montreal
region.
"On behalf of all Montrealers, I'd like to thank National Bank
and Louis Vachon, its President and
Chief Executive Officer, for his initiative and for the
contributions of the key partners in offering this impressive art
installation for Montreal's 375th
anniversary. It demonstrates the city's creative flair and honours
its history with the St-Lawrence River. And our sincere gratitude
to Montreal's own Alain Paiement for developing his artistic
creation spanning Autoroute 20—it will surely impress all of those
who use this thoroughfare," Denis
Coderre, Mayor of Montreal.
"Throughout history, numerous artists have worked in and with
landscape—notably Christo and Jeanne-Claude or Robert Smithson with his piece, Spiral
Jetty. Bleu de bleu is now part of this select
group due to its sheer size and grandiose use of space. It's truly
a bold, massive piece of art. The MAC will work to preserve its
memory and the utopian experience it offers," John Zeppetelli, Director and Chief Curator of
the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal.
"Blue. Nordic, celestial, flowing. The colour of dreams and
infinity. Energetic wavelength. Both day and night. Blue
Montreal," Alain Paiement, artist and creator of Bleu de
bleu.
National Bank would like to highlight the contribution of its
various collaborators.
- The partners who helped make the project a reality:
Martin Coiteux, the Minister
responsible for the Montreal
region, Laurent Lessard, the
Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport
Electrification, Denis Coderre, the
Mayor of Montreal, the Musée
d'art contemporain de Montréal, Aéroports de Montréal
and Sid Lee.
- The members of the selection committee: Sandra Chartrand, President of the Fondation
Sandra et Alain Bouchard, Louise
Déry, Director of the Galerie de l'Université du Québec à
Montréal, Phyllis Lambert,
Founding Director of Emeritus at the Canadian Centre for
Architecture, Stéphane La Rue, artist, Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive
Officer of National Bank and John
Zeppetelli, Director and Chief Curator at the Musée d'art
contemporain de Montréal.
- The private partners and sponsors: Fondation Lise &
Richard Fortin, Fondation
Sandra & Alain Bouchard,
Walter J. Somers Foundation, Gaz Métro, Jean-Pierre Léger,
Lumenpulse Group and Louis
Vachon.
About National Bank of Canada
With $240 billion in assets as at July 31, 2017, National Bank of
Canada, together with its
subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial
groups. The Bank has more than 21,000 employees
and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities are
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's
activities at nbc.ca or via social
media such
as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
SOURCE National Bank of Canada