Icarus Point proposalAll world class cities have public art, amd Vancouver is no exception. We don't have a lot of it though, so I've been thinking of projects that would be pertinent to Vancouver. I have photoshopped a couple of ideas for your perusal and consideration.
Stanley Park is in need of some remedial beautification, so I thought that it would be a good venue. It already has the female scuba diver reminiscent of Copenhagen's mermaid on the rock, and I thought that it would be good to stick with bronzes.
The theme that I came up with is Icarus - based on the well-known Greek myth concerning a man, who, in his bird costume, flew too close to the sun and melted the wax that held his wings together and plunged into the sea (as an analogue to the exuberant specu-vestors who have driven this market so unsustainably high). You may recall that Daedelus - Icarus' father (an analogue to the analysis done by VHB, freako, and a few others), warned him not to fly too high, but Icarus heeded not in the hubris of youth, and fell to his end.
Icarus built his bird suit from wood and feathers glued together with wax, and that is rather what all these new condo's will be seem to be made of when they start springing leaks a few years after their warranties expire. They are, after all, mostly built by novices to the construction trades, and I have doubts about the workmanship. Some whom I have spoken to, that have done work in the new buildings, have told me that the quality is not so great.
The bronzes will be enhanced by the shredded remains of Stanley Park. We could even rename Prospect Point Icarus Point. Seems fitting to me.
Icarus falling proposalWho knows? I may even be able to buy an East Van. crack-shack with the commissions.
4 comments:
The Icarus idea is brilliant!
Not a bad idea with statues.. It would also bring in more tourists would it not?
i am really interested in the public art idea but i would like to know if this vision includes ethnic vision of public art i.e would your vision include the design of public art by immigrant communities in vancouver-indian, russian, serb, polish, mexican. THAT would make Vancouver unique as a North American city that has taken into account its changing profile in addition to its past.
persephone said - i am really interested in the public art idea but i would like to know if this vision includes ethnic vision of public art
I just saw your comment persephone. There is a fair bit of Native public art in Vancouver. I'm sure that other ethnicities are represented as well. My suggestion for a statue of Icarus was really a tongue-in-cheek poke at Vancouver's hubris.
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