With summer in full swing, Montreal is alive with colour. Outdoor terraces are bustling, flowers and trees are in full bloom, and the signature sights and colours of summer fill the city.
The 2014 Ford Fiesta brought these vibrant colours underground to the Montreal metro with an art subway takeover. Three of the city’s most popular subway stations were transformed into an underground art exhibition for 72 hours by nine local artists. Inspired by the Fiesta, the artists turned columns, turnstyles, walls, and more into a colourful tapestry.
9 Artists, 1 Common Inspiration
Let’s take a closer look at the artists who contributed.
Jesse Collette: This New-Brunswick native adopted Montreal 10 years ago. Inspired by the exploration and expression of human nature, he likes to play with different disciplines, expressing himself with sculpture, as well as with collage and drawing. How did the Fiesta inspire him? It evokes a feeling of freedom when on the road!
Jocelyn Michel: This exceptional photographer is from the Saguenay region of Quebec. He’s got an uncommon sense of humour, which he displayed at the beginning of his career by decorating road kill. He also finds inspiration from the Fiesta’s colours.
Norma Andreu: Originally from Mexico, she’s been living in Montreal since 2009. She is the creator of Cara Carmina’s world, a universe full of chiffon dolls, collaged dioramas and children’s illustration. Known for her mischievous art, everything inspires her – from the colour of a flower to the smile of a little girl. “The Fiesta is a fun car, perfect for an artist!” says Norma.
Tyson Bodnarchuk: This illustrator hailing from Winnipeg has been living in Montreal for a while now. Obsessed by monsters, he also loves comics. With such interests, just try to imagine his work!
Artwork at Sherbrooke station
Jeska: A visual artist living in the Laurentides region of Quebec, she won the Great Prize in “figurative frontier” from the Cercle des artistes peintres et sculpteurs du Québec (CAPSQ). Her eclectic style is inspired by freedom in all its shapes: horses, birds and even the Fiesta.
Chopin: Growing up in a mainly Italian neighbourhood of Montreal, he started his career inspired by the world around him. His greatest influence nevertheless is Salvador Dali, thanks to whom he forged his own individual style, combining different techniques. No wonder he described the Fiesta as a “little bit of madness that helps us reach whole new destinations.”
Damian Siqueiros: A visual artist and photographer born in Mexico and now living in Montreal, he’s always looking for the deep beauty that gives art the power to change the world, so you will certainly find a degree of social consciousness in his work. A dancing aficionado, he’s fascinated by the kinetic design of the Fiesta. He finds it gives the impression that the car is constantly in movement, even when idle.
TAVA: Antoine Tavaglione is a contemporary pop artist of Italian origin, who’s living in Montreal. He takes advantage of his travels to get inspired by local culture, food and architecture. His creations are present in various destinations across the globe – Montreal, New York and Europe. To him, the Fiesta is a bit like his own art: fun, positive, energetic, colourful and young.
Oleg Dergachov: This artist knows quite a bit about the Fiesta – it was his first-ever car! It took him and his creations everywhere they had to go: Berlin, Amsterdam, Warsaw and Budapest!
Ford and the Quebec Community
We were very proud to offer this showcase to such talented artists, in an effort to make their work shine in the city. For more than a century, Ford has shared and celebrated Quebec’s rich culture – it’s something that has always been important to us.
What are your thoughts on Ford’s initiatives that encourage and highlight Quebec’s culture? We want to hear from you, so let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!