Quebec’s strangest monument
Quebec has a particularly strange monument: a sculpture by the French artist Jean-Pierre Renaud called Dialogue with History. It is placed in the middle of the Square of Paris, down by the river side. At first sight, you might think, like I did, and like many others did, mistake it for some scaffolding, protecting a statue under restoration. Well it's not and there is nothing underneath: just a cement block. It is covered however by squares of marble with black interstices that make the whole thing look like a giant white Rubik's cube. And may be it is; contemporary art works sometimes have various interpretations.
The title however Dialogue with History refers to the generations of French men and women who settled in this part of North America, so I guess the Rubik's ideal is out, the puzzle being just over 25 years old and the French began arriving here over 400 years ago. So think of an interpretation when you see it on your next visit.
You must know that it has had little success among the population and has baffled many visitors. It is said that, when it was inaugurated in 1987, even Jacques Chirac, who was then mayor of Paris, had some tickly remarks.
See pictures