Guillaume Laporte: “It was an honor”

MONTREAL – Guillaume Laporte grew up a Habs fan.

Image of collectible hockey cards and figurines; You name it and it can be owned.

The artist's fandom has dwindled as it has given way to other interests, but it still bleeds. bleu-blanc-rouge. Proof? He thinks he might be the crazy one on the team. According to Laporte, the Habs have lost every time they go into the Bell Centre.

“I'm as superstitious as a fan. I believed that my presence made them lose,” he laughed.

But it seems bright days are ahead for the man known as Zeke in the artist community. His losing streak ended on October 28 when the Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4–3 in a shootout.

Laporte was at the Bell Centre… just not as a fan in the stands.

He was busy completing a painting depicting a matchup between the Habs and the Jets as part of a team artist series presented by Lotto-Quebec.

A new project this season allowed fans to watch a local artist create a unique painting in real time inspired by the competition at the M2 Marché MTL Loto-Québec party.

Over a dozen home games on Saturday night, a talented roster of 12 artists highlighted each of these intensely competitive matches on the ice.

Co-founder of Project Tyxna, a company specializing in mural production and digital design, Laporte is known for her work in this field. He made it easy for the everyday fan to understand the concept of his designs while letting his creativity shine.

“I thought I'd try to paint the lines and make some interesting shapes and incorporate the Canadiens and Jets logos from different eras,” he said. “I also wanted each team to have a color, a theme, so I created a true range of colors that connect Canadians and pilots.”

As fans watched their favorite team skate on the ice, they were treated to another performance on the ice with a unique look at the creative process of each artist as they worked to complete their paintings during the evening.

Hockey and art may seem worlds apart, but there are similarities that are not visible.

“At the end of the day, it's a performance,” he explains. “Hockey players do their best to win and perform on the ice rink. But the visual artist in the performance also tries to act in an interesting way. They also paid attention to it. A painting should be as interesting as the artist. You have to keep the audience in suspense. (…) So productivity combines the two. The range of visual arts is also wide. You can do whatever you want. So the link can be made there as well.”

For fans looking to own unique hockey gear, 11 of the 12 pieces, including Laporte, can be won through a contest on Canada's website until April 15th.

Although Laporte will not be able to include this image in his childhood memories of Hubs, he will leave the experience with great satisfaction and a memory that will last a lifetime.

“Actually, it was an honor,” he said fondly. “When they approached me, I was like, 'Wow.' (…) I'm checking this off my to-do list. That's how I see it.'