Artworks

Decarie ll is a wonderful testimony to Surrey’s achievement as being a master at painting works illuminated by electric light. The painting epitomizes the artist’s preoccupation and resentment of cars and their impact upon urban life.

"[to live with danger] is manifested in the reluctance or inability of a person to envision his own death even though he sees the threat all around him...This trait enables us, despite the statistics of traffic deaths, to drive with peace of mind.” [1]

The composition shows the heavy equipment employed in the construction of Montreal’s Decarie Expressway, a sunken north/south highway heading into the city. His description of the construction equipment suggests somewhat surreal imagery. While the concept of such a construction project had been debated by municipal politicians for years beforehand, with the objective of its completion in time for Expo 67, it was in 1965 that a decision was made and the construction got under way. The roadway was officially opened less than a week before the World’s Fair.

_________________________________

Footnotes:
1. Margaret Surrey, Biographical notes of Philip Surrey, Philip and Margaret Day Fonds, P85A, National Archives of Canada, Estate Philip Surrey, 141.