In September three innocent looking demons—two towering over six metres—will stand in Richmond, greeting guests of the 2010 Winter Games.
Together, the trio of glossy black plastic sculptures weigh 1,500 kilograms, appearing mischievously devilish and, according to the artists, “apocalyptic.”
This is Angels & Demons, a public art installation commissioned for the Lille 3000 Contemporary Arts Festival in France and created by AES+F, a trio of contemporary Russian artists.
Three in the 13-piece set are expected to be on display in Richmond from September until mid-2011 as part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, a temporary outdoor public art exhibition that includes sculptures and new media installations by international artists.
This is the third such event, and the first time Richmond will be participating, thanks to its theme of IN-TRANSIT-ION and the Canada Line trains that will connect Vancouver with the island city.
The project’s executive director Barrie Mowatt said the theme is about how in the last 40 years, public art has become more than just memorials. It also ties in with public transit, as organizers hope to have installations on transit shelters, Canada Line trains and buses next year.
In all, the project will display 30 major sculpture installations from more than 25 nations and up to 80 light installations from as many as 100 young international artists.
Six installations have been selected for Richmond, including one at the airport. Organizers hope to get approval for another two installations at the Richmond Olympic Oval or surrounding area.
Giving the Vancouver area a cultural identity is the idea behind the project.
Mowatt said Toronto has a film festival, Montreal has jazz, Calgary has the Stampede and Vancouver has, well, nice geography.
“Part of the biennale is to create that umbrella where all these little art niches will come together and start realizing there’s a venue, there’s an important international art event,” he said.
The biennale will be an “explosion of energy,” made possible by exhibiting art in public places, not hidden in galleries.
“We need to take museum-quality art to people, where people are and where they inhabit, where they function and where they operate,” said Mowatt. “It really is taking it to the shopping centres, to the public parks, to the beaches.”
Organizers strive to engage and educate viewers by making the art accessible and interactive. For example, Made in China is an interactive maze built with red bricks—and possibly built by the public.
“No velvet ropes. Public sculpture and public installations is all about people engaging them,” said Mowatt.
Sites for the sculptures have yet to be determined, but the city is considering areas such as the Middle Arm dyke, Minoru Park, No. 3 Road, the Richmond Cultural Centre and Aberdeen Centre.
The first set of artworks will be installed in September, others will be installed in April 2010.
The Vancouver Biennale non-profit group is paying most of the costs related to the exhibitions, while the city of Richmond’s share is $75,000 in site preparation, security, insurance and lighting.
Open Spaces 2005/2007 was the inaugural biennale, which showcased 22 public art pieces in various public spaces in Vancouver.
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Planned temporary public art installations
•Doors of Knowledge by Robert Hughes (UK): Painted aluminum panels, 21 metres long and nearly three metres high playfully portray the history of art.
•Angels & Demons by AES+F (Russia): Three monumental cartoon-like baby-devil sculptures currently on display in Lille, France.
•Chandeliers in Series by Hema Upadhyay (India): Chandelier forms made from matchsticks.
•Made in China by Sui Jianguo (China): Interactive maze, 52 metres long, constructed of material that looks like red bricks.
•Miss Mao trying to poise herself at the top of Lenin’s head by the Gao Brothers (China): A massive chrome-like sculpture that matches its title.
•Returning Home by Dennis Oppenheim (New York): Piece greeting airport guests outside of YVR by artist who created Device to Root Out Evil, also known as the upside down church.
Under consideration
•Water #10 by Jun Ren (China): Enormous stainless steel sculpture that appears like mercury stopped in motion.
•WE by Jaume Plensa (Spain): A massive seated figure composed of letters from various languages.
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