Allégories de McCollum, Contemporary sculpture installation at Le Corum, Montpellier, France
Allégories de McCollum comprises five figures cast in silicone that line the first tram route through Montpellier. Despite sharing the same production method, each figure displays distinct facial features and expressions.
American artist Allan McCollum installed this ensemble in 2000 as the city developed its modern tram network. This moment reflected Montpellier's choice to integrate public art with transportation infrastructure.
The figures emerge from an artistic conversation between mass production and personal identity played out in public space. Commuters and visitors encounter these forms during ordinary journeys on the tram, bringing art into the rhythm of daily life.
The figures are positioned along Tram Line 1 and can be viewed easily from various stops throughout the route. You can visit them at any time by riding the tram or walking along the corridor they occupy.
All five figures were cast from identical silicone molds, meaning they are technically the same. Yet each one appears different, revealing how location and context transform the viewer's perception of what seems identical.
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