At first glance, yes. However, upon taking a closer look at each of the murals, my answer has changed to definitely yes one hundred times yes. There are too many murals of Leonard Cohen in Montreal.
How can it be that Leonard Cohen has two whole murals of himself in Montreal while I barely have one of myself in my own home? Leonard Cohen is undeniably a Canadian-Jewish legend. I merely regret the implication that he is the only celebrity worthy of not one but two 20-story high portraits. In fact, I find quite a few faults with these murals. I will explain them to you throughout this article.
Here is the first complaint I have about the two (2) Leonard Cohen murals. Why must they be so far from each other? In completing my research for this article I ventured to visit both of the—let’s just say it—nearly identical murals. The Crescent Street mural is a whopping 40-minute walk away from the one on St. Laurent. Despite my supreme athleticism, I only made it halfway to the first.
This may sound crazy, but it almost feels as though the murals are mocking me. I could’ve sworn that I heard one whisper, “Hey, you! Noa Garmaise. I am the Crescent Leonard Cohen and I am talking to you. You do not look very tall.” Such a strange occurrence that I must discount it completely! Certainly there is no way that one of the two Leonard Cohen murals is verbally interacting with me.
Another issue that I have with the murals is that they are not properly to scale. There is no way that Leonard Cohen was 10,000 square feet. I never met him in person, but Leonard Cohen was a Jewish guy and I find it therefore unlikely that he was even above 7 feet tall.
Simply put, the murals do not speak to me. Artistically, that is. In the more literal sense, yes, they speak to me all the time, and I am beginning to wonder if anyone else can hear them too. I brought my roommate Suhani to the murals, and we did not hear a peep from either of the Cohens. Suhani did however turn to me and ask, “Why did you bring me to this painting of Anthony Bourdain?” I am beginning to wonder if the murals don’t want me sharing our special secret—that they are talking to me in modern English on what is now becoming a regular basis.
To be fully honest, I am not only concerned because the murals are talking to me. I communicate with art almost every day. The situation has escalated and the murals have now started to ask things of me. Terrible things. On my last visit to the Crescent Street mural, I heard whispering, quieter than usual, telling me not to study for my Strategic Management midterm.
A third grievance I have with the Leonard Cohen murals is that there are other Canadian-Jewish celebrities also deserving of a bit of paint. Have the kind people of Montreal ever heard of a little someone called Finn Wolfhard? He is neither from Montreal nor passed on from this earth, but doesn’t he deserve a bit of love too?
“Don’t study. Do not make flashcards. By no means buy and then read the textbook. I am the answer, I am the answer.” The murals are getting louder. More aggressive now. I can’t say I am not scared. I’ve toured lots of street art in my time, but typically it tells me to write an outline for my essays early so that I am not stressed and cramming at the last minute. But this. This is beyond me.
“I am the answer, I am the answer.” I hear the words of the 1+1 Leonard Cohen murals echoing in my ears as I flip open my Strategic Management midterm. Forget all that now, I tell myself. For it is time to write a test. I look at the first and only question: WHICH JEWISH CELEBRITY HAS TWO MURALS OF HIMSELF IN THE CITY OF MONTREAL? Leonard Cohen murals, you beautiful bastards! You were right all along. You are the answer. I did not need to study. I finally understand the value of these pieces of art. They are all knowing, good at commerce, and artistically meaningful.
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