In a program to revitalize the Place des Arts esplanade, the main fountain – a monumental basin at the heart of Montreal’s festival scene – was designated a site for contemporary art installations. Each summer, a call for portfolios is issued and an artist selected to transform the water basin into an original oeuvre d’art.

For the inaugural installation in 2002, we chose to enliven the area by painting the basin a vibrant, joyful orange. It could have been any colour – any, that is, but the flat blue one would expect.