Festival Art Souterrain

In his book J’attends l’autobus, Alexandre Castonguay describes his life as an artist living in a remote region, sharing his frequent journeys between Rouyn-Noranda and Montreal. His writing is poetic, philosophical, and often protest-driven, resembling a milk run—an endless commute from the Montreal bus station to his hometown. It immerses the reader in moments of dislocation between the present and the past, as well as the aspiration for a decentralized culture. The narrative is influenced by the many conversations he has with the night clerk at the Couche-Tard convenience store, a Frenchman studying Art History at UQAM.

For the Festival Art Souterrain, Castonguay is returning to the metropolis by bus with an original proposal as his only luggage. He invites the public to a reading at the exact location that inspired his book: the Montreal bus station. Through this experience, where fiction and a variety of experiences blend together, he will give voice to his writing against the backdrop of real-life situations. His own reality has evolved since the book was published, reflecting the experiences of those who navigate urban spaces and the broader context of a changing society.