Seven thirty a.m. in the Montreal metro. Does that ring a bell? It’s the beginning of Gérald Godin’s poem. It is titled “Tango de Montréal”. We are standing before the Tango de Montréal Mural. It is a public artwork that brings poetry to the streets.
The Tango de Montréal Mural is not just paint. It’s an artistic collaboration by Les Industries Perdues. Richard Purdy founded it in 1991. François Hébert joined him that same year.
The mural is located in Place Gérald-Godin. It is in the heart of Plateau-Mont-Royal Borough. Look up at the north wall of the building at 4433-4435-4437 Rue Rivard. There it is. The Tango de Montréal.
The Tango de Montréal is a large-format reproduction. It showcases Gérald Godin’s poem. He wrote it in 1983. It was published in his collection Sarzène.
Godin’s poem embodies his love for Montreal. It reflects his deep human concerns. The artists wanted to give Godin a voice in a public space. This is a place where people pass by every day. They leave for work. They come home. They arrive for the first time.
Each letter of the poem is unique. The artists sculpted 327 typographic characters. They used clay. Then, they baked each one at high temperature. This created a high-quality brick. Each of the 327 bricks was then built into the wall. The wall became a page.
Notice the style. The characters resemble Roman sculptures. Black mortar highlights the contrast. This makes the poem readable from a distance.
Here’s a little secret. After the Tango de Montréal Mural was unveiled, one brick was replaced. There was an error in Godin’s original poem.
Godin wasn’t just a poet. He was also a politician. From 1976 to 1994, he served as a member of the National Assembly of Québec. He was also the minister of cultural communities and immigration.
Richard Purdy and François Hébert both have master’s degrees in visual arts. They have had many solo exhibitions. Their art integrates into the urban environment. It often places objects into existing or invented mythical contexts. Les Industries Perdues has created 19 works of public art.
The Tango de Montréal Mural gives voice to Godin. It shares his poem with everyone. It’s a reminder of the city’s old heart. It beats thanks to its people.