Réflexion – An Expression of our History

Intersection of Maisonneuve and Sacré-Cœur boulevards

Artists: Simon Bouffard, Claude Chaussard and André Fournelle

The wood industry – a symbol of our history

Gatineau's economic history has deep roots in the wood industry and, to this day, forest products remain a key component of the region's economy.

The artwork's 64 elements, all of the same size and made of steel, wood and reflective acrylic, provide a point of reference. In the daytime, the many vertical elements create a marker signalling the entrance to the downtown area, while at night, the many light sources reflecting from these structures create a constellation that guides the way.

The artists behind Réflexion: Simon Bouffard, Claude Chaussard and André Fournelle

Born in England in 1939, André Fournelle lives and works in Montréal. To date, he has exhibited his works in Quebec, the rest of Canada, the United States and Europe. This sculptor's work revolves around installations and inventions. He has had a hundred solo and group exhibitions. His best-known achievements include the “ombre rouge” exhibit in the Chapelle Saint-Louis in the Salpêtrière, Paris, the fire curtain at the pont des Arts, Paris, the neon spiral in Death Valley, California and the tree monument in Taipei, Taïwan.

Simon Bouffard is a member of the Association des architectes paysagistes du Québec and has contributed to landscape projects in the Faubourg Québec and structures on île Sainte-Hélène and place Émilie-Gamelin. Finally, Claude Chaussard, a graduate in architecture (DPLG), is a development and public art project manager. He has done several projects in France, India and Japan, including the installation of fountains and environmental sculptures. He has developed expertise in urban art and serves as a consultant for architectural firms involved in public urban development contests.