Daily tous les jours’ latest creation takes flight
Daily tous les jours, an award-winning Montreal art and design studio, presents Human Perches, its latest work created for the Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie (UQROP) in St-Jude, on the footbridge leading to its new interpretation centre and with the support of the Quebec government. Human Perches and is on permanent display at the Chouette à voir! site, in harmony with the forest.
By climbing onto a perch, visitors can approach the speaker to listen to birdsong and enjoy an immersive experience in the forest from a different angle. This time, it is humans who are perched.
“This project was an opportunity to imagine a new way for people of all ages to connect with nature. Perching engages the whole body in an exercise of listening and attention,” said Melissa Mongiat, co-founder of Daily tous les jours.
An enchanting and educational work
This new creation is an installation of ten interactive, human-sized perches installed along a 55-metre footbridge. The perches compose a sound narrative of the forest’s inhabitants, inviting humans to tune into their environment. As visitors cross the footbridge, a musical score reveals four seasons, evoking the dynamics and interactions that animate the ecosystem. The contemporary classical composition is by internationally renowned Juno Award-winning Canadian composer Keiko Devaux. Her approach embraces a love of electroacoustic sounds and methodologies. She is interested in emotional and affective experiences, and self-organising phenomena in nature and living beings.
Each perch is equipped with sensors and a soft light, and the birdsong is triggered when a human perches on it! The act of perching awakens the senses and sharpens the sense of hearing. After experiencing Human Perches, we discover previously imperceptible layers of sound in the forest and continue to imagine the life that exists there.
The work was made possible thanks to $327,160 in funding from the Ministry of Culture and Communications’ Call for Projects for the Promotion of Quebec Culture. “I invite everyone to visit this installation, a truly immersive experience that will allow visitors to feel at one with nature. Innovative projects like this one, which integrate technology and culture, make it possible to reach a wider audience in unusual places and to showcase internationally renowned creators in our region. Congratulations to everyone who collaborated on this work, which pays tribute to our wildlife,” said Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region.
With Human Perches, the studio offers a unique communion with nature while educating the public about birds, including vulnerable species. “Conservation efforts to preserve our precious wildlife also involve education and enchantment,” says Mouna Andraos, co-founder of Daily tous les jours. “We hope that young and old alike will fall in love with birds and the forest, one song at a time,” she adds.
Photo: Steven Maltais
Birds hide to sing
There is less bird song during the day, whereas night and dawn are conducive to exchanges between species, inversely proportional to human presence. What we hope to hear is revealed in our absence. The Daily tous les jours team asked themselves, “How can we deepen our connection with birds?”
“UQROP is pleased to present Daily tous les jours outdoor installation to the public. Inspired by the nature of the site, it is a unique work in Quebec that will appeal to a wide audience in all seasons. Everyone is invited to come and experience Human Perches and discover Chouette à voir! all year round,” says Guy Fitzgerald, President of UQROP.
The installation is divided into four seasons
It is among the colourful leaves of October that birds prepare to face the cold season or travel south. Species: Barred Owl, Merlin.
When the snow settles, the birds become more discreet. Their rare songs serve to signal danger or indicate the presence of food. Species: Northern Cardinal, Grey-headed Junco, Pileated Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee.
In spring, competition is in full swing: courtship displays, rivalries and impressive demonstrations enliven the woods. Species: Goldfinch, Great Horned Owl, Wild Turkey, Pine Siskin, Blue Jay.
Summer arrives in a climate of calm and vigilance. Predators watch as small birds fiercely defend their nests. Species: American Robin, Brown Woodpecker, American Crow, Barred Owl.
In harmony with nature
In keeping with the resilient design of the interpretation centre building, the project was designed with environmental footprint in mind. The footbridge was built to protect the ecosystems on the site, made from recycled structures from the original Champlain Bridge and cedar.
The perches are made of raw aluminium with anodised parts, chosen for their durability and ease of recycling in a future life. The technology was chosen for its simplicity, keeping the focus on the surrounding nature.
Live the experience during your next visit to Chouette à voir!. Now open year-round, you can visit according to opening hours: https://chouetteavoir.ca/en/plan-your-visit/
