An interactive journey that transforms the public's greetings into luminous animations in the streets of Saint-Roch, from February 26 to May 17, 2026.
Québec, the February 23, 2026 - EXMURO art public is proud to present Wishing machinesa new work of public art by multidisciplinary artist Fannie Giguère. Deployed in the Saint-Roch district from February 26 to May 17, 2026, this poetic, participatory installation invites citizens, workers, families, students and visitors to make a wish and let the light transform their daily lives.
Through five luminous mechanical sculptures scattered around the neighborhood, Wishing machines proposes a path where you activate a button to trigger a luminous animation. Each gesture triggers a collective ritual, creating moments of wonder in the heart of winter and contributing to the revitalization of downtown through art.
The five wishing machines:
- La promesse - an oath of complicity at Café Rencontre Centre-Ville
- The cake - a fragile, luminous wish at La Korrigane
- Luck - a universal gesture of hope at Critérium
- The dial - the moment when anything seems possible at La Nef - Coopérative de solidarité
- L'effeuillage - a wish sent to one's love, a sign of hope at Hotel Pur
A natural dialogue with Saint-Roch, a vibrant and creative district
Designed to fit seamlessly into the everyday life of the neighborhood, the work follows the rhythm of its streets and speaks directly to the people who live, work or pass through it. The work encourages winter strolling, creates meeting points and invites us to take a fresh look at the places around us. It lights up as it comes into contact with passers-by, Wishing machines help strengthen the sense of belonging and promote the cultural vitality of the downtown area.
A contemporary work of art by artist Fannie Giguère
Quebec-based artist Fannie Giguère develops a sensitive and playful artistic practice rooted in everyday gestures and symbols. She is interested in the affective charge of simple forms, familiar objects and micro-rituals that create bonds between people. Her approach, imbued with humor and delicacy, aims to reveal what brings us together and provoke small moments of wonder in everyday life. By investing urban space, she creates accessible works that invite participation and open the door to shared human experiences.
EXMURO also presents the exhibition Murmures de l'invisible in collaboration with Les productions Recto-Verso and Urban Art Lab
From January 30 to April 6, 2026, l'Aire publique will be hosting Murmures de l'invisible, a group exhibition as part of the Mois Multi, bringing together seven artists from Korea and Quebec. Co-curated by Christian Lapointe (Les productions Recto-Verso, Québec), Seungah Lee (Urban Art Lab, Seoul) and Vincent Roy (EXMURO, Québec), this exhibition explores ephemeral, intangible and forgotten phenomena; those faded memories, fleeting sensations and discreet links that, unnoticed, shape our lives. Murmures de l'invisible opens the door to daring worlds that unfold in the blind spots of perception, offering the public a contemplative experience that is accessible and open to all.
A presentation by EXMURO art public
Founded in 2007 and directed artistically by Vincent Roy, EXMURO designs, produces and distributes public artworks in Quebec and abroad, with the aim of surprising, disturbing and provoking thought.
EXMURO makes art accessible in open-air public places and in welcoming spaces with doors always wide open. At l'Aire publique, its contemporary art space in the heart of Place Royale, as elsewhere in the city, works of art transport us elsewhere - beyond the everyday, beyond the known. EXMURO makes room for artists and works of art to shine, and for their creations to find their rightful place, here and there. Through its projects and its commitment to artists, EXMURO takes public art beyond walls and beyond borders.
The project Wishing machines is funded by the City of Quebec and the Quebec government under the Cultural Development Agreement.
February 26 to May 17, 2026, Wishing machines will come alive in the Saint-Roch district, a free, all-weather experience inaugurated on February 26, 2026.
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