Jax

Pierre Poussin’s Jax reimagines one of the world’s oldest and most widespread games by amplifying its scale and colour, inviting visitors to see the game anew. The popularity of Jacks endures as it’s a portable activity that’s playable by all ages. It is traditionally played by tossing a ball, and collecting as many small objects as possible before the ball hits the ground. Here those “small items” are scaled up by a factor of 25, creating a larger-than-life playscape where passersby can assume the role of Jacks’ iconic red rubber ball, hopping from one zone to the next.

Tetrapods, an architectural element found along shorelines, are re-appropriated for new and playful purposes. Here, their bright colours reference the most recent 2SLGBTQQIA+ flag, signaling an inclusive play space where all are welcome, and where chance encounters serve to better unite us.

Play. Laugh. Embrace Silly. Encourage Love.

Co-commissioned by Concord Adex and The Bentway Conservancy.

About the Artist

Pierre Poussin creates public art that unites abstraction, functionality, and fun. When approaching an opportunity, he considers the physical site and the interests of the community, and then works to create a piece that both defines the space and provides an engaging and immersive experience for the audience. Within that exploration he juxtaposes elements of nature and industry, past and future, and dynamic and static. The result is artworks that resonate within the urban environment and bring continued long term interest to a site.