The art of identifying art

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Have you seen them? In the last few months, roughly a hundred plaques used to identify works of art were installed inside forty or so métro stations.

Have you seen them? In the last few months, roughly a hundred plaques used to identify works of art were installed inside forty or so métro stations.

The first eight, round-shaped plaques in the series were installed in December. Following a hiatus of several months, allowing time to improve the stainless steel case, the plaque installation is now in full swing. As of today, there are only a dozen works of art left without an identification plaque, for the most part in stations currently undergoing major renovations like Berri-UQAM, Champ-de-Mars, McGill and Langelier. 

Keep in mind that installation of these plaques, at first glance quite simple, is only one tangible aspect of the huge, complex project, one that also fulfilled a long-standing need. The project was entirely carried out by in-house resources. Indeed, several STM crews rolled up their sleeves to make it happen. It should be noted that about twenty plaques originally installed between the 1960s and 1980s were left untouched, because of their heritage character and value.

More actions to enhance artwork 
Identifying the works of art is only one of the actions taken by the STM to enhance its art collection in the métro. With technical support from the Centre de conservation du Québec, which is marking its 35th anniversary this fall, the STM has coordinated the restoration or cleaning of some forty works of art over the past ten years, in some instances with additional financial support from the Québec government. Visits were also recently organized as part of the 25th anniversary of the Montréal public art bureau, another partner with whom the STM shares a close working relationship. New works of art will soon grace Champ-de-Mars station (2014), Jean-Talon (2015) and Place-d’Armes (2016).

Until then, the Montréal métro’s collection of 85 artworks will all soon be clearly labelled, enabling the public to better appreciate the vast, underground art gallery. To find out more, visit the section dedicated to art in the métro