Mount Royal - A World Apart

Most large cities have places of calm and tranquility somewhere within their boundaries. In some cities it is a park, in others a lake or a river and yet in others it could be a cemetery. These are places that city people seek out to find respite from the noisy and stressful lives they lead, to restore a balance and to find some peace.

In the past my work documented the downtown streets of my place of birth, Montreal, however I am now interested in the distilled essence of what constitutes the city.

The heart of Montreal is Mount Royal Park. Located in the centre of the city, established in 1876 and covering 190 hectares, it has come to be known as THE MOUNTAIN. There, people are transformed by the park's magic - induced into a meditative state where nature and humanity interact, a veritable oasis and theater of animal, vegetal and human life.

For the last two years I have been photographing there in all seasons. My work is not merely a document but rather an attempt to capture a sense of place. The silence, the mystery, the synthesis of illusion and reality. The park is within the city and creates an environment that shapes the people, but similarly, the people who spend time there, help to create the environment. The interplay between the two is fascinating. The presence of nature is evident in each image, but nature is always touched by man's work. Not only are the trees an essential element in the park, but the relationship between them and the people who sit on the benches beneath them is revealed

I wish to pay homage to the sanctity of place in seeking out the inner spirit in order to reveal its beauty.

Linda Rutenberg