Fancy a climb? Here at the Dentrites Installation, art invites you to do just that. The Dendrites Installation stands as a unique testament to Montreal’s urban renewal. Once, this area was dominated by the Bonaventure Expressway. It was a car-infested zone. Today, it is a verdant esplanade. In the mid-2010s, the city decided to dismantle part of this highway.
Before Montreal’s Expo 67, the Bonaventure Expressway was built. It connected the world’s fair site to downtown through Pointe-Saint-Charles and Griffintown. Decades later, parts were deemed useless. Traffic dwindled to less than 60000 cars a day. In 2017, the controversial expressway was partially dismantled. A large park replaced it. Walkways and bicycle lanes crisscrossed this new epicenter. This promoted urban revival. The Dendrites Installation is one of several eye-catching artworks in this area. At first glance, it might resemble an unfinished pedestrian bridge.
Straddling Notre-Dame Street, the Dendrites are a pair of convoluted stairways. Artist Michel de Broin created them. The structures share their name with the ramified part of a neuron. Neurons communicate with other brain cells. They do this via neurotransmitters through synapses. Much like their inspiration, the sculptures have branching staircases.
The term “Dendrites” comes from the Greek word “Dendron” meaning tree. This alludes to one of the artwork’s metaphors. The multiple trunks are built of weathering steel. Their umber hue is reminiscent of a tree. The artwork’s rusty tint also reflects the area’s industrial past. It also reflects the nearby wrought iron bridges.
Unlike traditional art spaces, the Dendrites Installation encourages interaction. You are welcome to explore the staircases with your entire body. This installation blurs the lines between art and reality. The climbable sculptures offer vantage points. Each sits at a different height. From here, you can get panoramic views of the surrounding streets. So go ahead and climb the Dendrites Installation. Take in Montreal from a unique perspective.