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An Innovative Collaboration Between UNESCO Creative Cities of Canada Led to the Creation of Celestia, a Participatory Art Installation by Studio Kleis

The Celestia installation consists of a collection of seven colorful modules made of steel and 100% recycled polystyrene, which come to life with sound and light as spectators approach and interact with them. Inspired by the Seven Sisters from the Greek myth of the Pleiades, these modules are unique in color, emotion, and character.

Sandrine Thériault, creator at Kleis, describes the interaction between the installation and the spectator: “From the outside, the collection attracts spectators with its flickering lights, colors, and shapes. But the interaction goes far beyond that first impression. It’s participatory furniture that truly engages the public.”

Celestia is the result of a rewarding artistic collaboration, bringing together Carolanne Foucher, a Quebecois author and poet, Jérôme Guilleaume, a sound designer, Yolande Okia Picard, a Huron-Wendat storyteller and writer, and the Kleis studio. Together, they have created a unique artistic experience where each module offers a distinct atmosphere, and where music, poetry, and light interact, immersing spectators in a dreamlike and contemplative environment.

Dates and venues

• Quebec City: First presentation from October 1, 2024, to December 15, 2024, at the ExpoCité site.
• Toronto: February 26, 2025, to March 31, 2025.
• London: Summer 2025.
• Montreal: November 28, 2025, to March 8, 2026.

The Genesis of the Project

Initiated by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), Celestia stands out for its integration of the specific disciplines from each participating city: literature (Quebec City), design (Montreal), digital arts (Toronto), and music (London).

Co-produced by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership (QDS) in Montreal, ExpoCité in Quebec City, and Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge Dundas Square) in Toronto (the Co-producers), the concept reflects the partners’ shared vision for occupying public space by entrusting artists with the task of creating a work that incorporates each of the partner cities’ elements (literature, design, digital arts, and music).

About UNESCO Creative Cities

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor in sustainable urban development, encompassing economic, social, cultural, and environmental aspects. The members of this global network, which consists of 350 cities, are committed to sharing their best practices, developing partnerships to promote creativity and cultural industries, strengthening participation in cultural life, and integrating culture into their urban development plans. They also contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 at the local level.The UCCN in Canada includes four cities and is supported by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO:

• Montreal, Creative City of Design since 2006
• Quebec City, Creative City of Literature since 2017
• Toronto, Creative City of Media Arts since 2017
• London, Creative City of Music since 2021

Celestia marks a unique collaboration among Canada’s UNESCO Creative Cities.

Artists Biographies

Kleis Inc.
Carolanne Foucher
Yolande Okia
Jérôme Guilleaume

The Huron-Wendat Legend

Storyteller Yolande Okia Picard states that legends always come to share values that help us better understand the meaning of life and grow emotionally, which she describes as “keys to opening the doors of the soul.” Every legend teaches us a value.

The Pleiades are very important to the Wendat. When they reach their zenith in the sky, it marks the beginning of the new year and the end of a cycle of thirteen moons. This moment usually occurs between mid-December and mid-February.

During this celebration, a new cycle begins. The ashes are turned. Forgiveness is given.

This period is an opportunity to give back what has been received, knowing that the Creator, life, and nature will return everything we need for the new cycle. It is also a time to share a feast, play the snake game on the snow, and enjoy activities like the bowl game, a game of chance, strategy, and sharing.

This legend invites us to embrace the value of sharing and reminds us of the importance of community life, often forgotten in modern times.

The co-production of Celestia is a wonderful opportunity for sharing between the UNESCO Creative Cities, as well as a chance to highlight Quebec and Wendat literature through two authors, one from the city of Quebec and the other from the Huron-Wendat Nation.