'Unusual Passages' in Québec City

John Hill

6. August 2019

Celestial Rubbish by Montréal's Collectif Allard-Duchesneau (Photo: Stéphane Bourgeois; all photos courtesy of v2com)

Passages Insolites, a 4km-long "art circuit" on display in Québec City until October 14, features more than a dozen artworks that play on the title's idea of "unusual passages" by inserting provocative elements into pedestrian pathways.

Some of the contributions by the 40 local and international artists and architecture collectives compose such "found" objects as dumpsters and security fences in unexpected ways, while others place art objects in a way that draws attention to their settings. The narrow alley that is the setting for Jeffrey Poirier's Echo, for instance, is compressed even further and made apparently impassable. Likewise, Max Streicher makes another alley appear even narrower through the insertion of two clown heads. A playfulness pervades the installations that make explorations of Québec City fun for visitors and residents alike.

Here we highlight a few of the contributions through photographs. Visit organizer EXMURO's website for more information (in French) on this year's Passages Insolites, and to download a map (PDF link) of the art circuit.