Ozymandias

Another grey day out today, so I thought this broody bit of black and white would be appropriate. Another Biennale piece, this one's called Eros Bendato Scrippolato by Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj. It's located in a cobblestone square in Yaletown. There's something Ozymandian about it, which appeals to my science-fiction post-apocalyptic sensibilities.

Post title from the poem (here recited by Ben Kingsley) by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Hammock

We've had a grim spring so far. Endless rain. Cool drizzly days. It's depressing. I even posted on flickr a shot taken from my apartment window of the murk and cloud, titled: This is what despair looks like.

However, on a rare sunny day last week, the first day I actually got out on my bicycle this year, I happened upon a couple of enterprising souls who had managed to string up a pair of hammocks on this piece of public art. I'd been meaning to get a photo of this sculpture for months, as it's near my neighbourhood, and very close to this and this. Glad I had my camera with me!

Post title from this song by Elevator Suite.

Building a Boat

Detail of a sculpture found in the International Departures area of Vancouver International Airport. Here's a shot of the whole sculpture. It's a quite remarkable piece, a twin of "Spirit of the Haida Gwai, The Black Canoe" that Bill Reid created for the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. This one was commissioned by the Vancouver International Airport Authority, and is called "The Jade Canoe". The sculpture is featured on the back of the Canadian $20 bill. Pictured here is "...The Frog who sits partially in and partially out of the boat and above the gunwales: the ever-present intermediary between two of the worlds of the Haidas, the land the sea."

Post title from this song by Matt Mays & El Torpedo.

Horse and Rider

This sculpture, called, simply enough, "Equestrian Monument" by David Robinson, is part of the Canada Line Public Art Program. It's located outside the Yaletown-Roundhouse station. Rather than try and get a shot of the entire horse and rider, I was taken by the way the light was hitting only the rider's face, so I pointed my iPhone lens in that direction as I walked by.

Post title from this song by Share.

Echo Beach

Grabbed this quick shot on Saturday while we were leaving brunch with some friends near Kits Beach. It'a another biennale piece, this one called "Echoes" by Canadian artist Michel Goulet. It's comprised of a line of chairs with phrases in English and French on the seats. It reminded me a little of the metal chairs you can find in the Tuileries in Paris. My own little homage to Paris Daily Photo.

Post title from this song by Martha and the Muffins.

Time Travel

Walking along the seawall near the Cambie Bridge recently, I stumbled across this bit of public art I'd never taken notice of before, despite the fact that it's been there for four years. It's called "Time Top" by Jerry Pethick. It's comprised of this vaguely spaceship-looking piece, combined with a 1930s comic-book strip by William Ritt (who at this time has no wikipedia page in English, but oddly, does in French) and Clarence Gray, carved right into the granite stone of the seawall's edge. A mad scientist type has invented a machine, the Time Top, designed to travel through time and space. Apparently, it's washed up here on the bank of False Creek.

Post title from this song by Behrouz.

Singing on the Sidewalk

Not a manhole cover, although it's about the same size as the ones I've photographed before. This is a decorative metal plate embedded in the sidewalk at the corner of Bute Street and Pender Street downtown. Identical metal plates repeat at seemingly random intervals up Bute St on both sides to Alberni Street. I've no idea why they're there, or if their positioning is random or has a pattern, or what, if anything, they signify. But they're pretty!

Post title from this song by Jeremy Fisher.

Like a Prayer

Ran across this mystery sculpture of giant praying hands on Granville Street near Georgia the other day. No idea why it's there; no sign, plaque or explanation of any kind. It's Sunday, so I thought the image was appropriate for those who believe.

Post title from this song by Madonna.

Stainless Steel

Another Biennale piece, this stainless steel sculpture, "Borbora" by Vladas Vildziunas of Lithuania sits across the street from the main train station, in Thornton Park. I've managed, without really planning to, to take photos of ten of the Biennale's thirty-one current installations. Twenty-one to go!

Post title from this song by Emily Weedon and Delta.

Pillow Talk

It's been a while since I posted a Biennale piece. This one is called Pillows, by Liu Jianhua of China. It's located in Harbour Green Park as well - not far from this and this. The sight of oversized white fiberglass pillows strewn across the lawn is definitely incongruous - I suppose that's the point of the piece!

Post title from this song by Sylvia.

Mushroom Therapy

Yesterday I stumbled across this charming set of tile mosaic mushrooms at the corner of Bute Street and Barclay Street in the West End neighbourhood. Titled "The Four Elements", the name of the piece and the artist's web address was worked into a corner of the concrete. Like so many things on this blog, I had no idea it was there until I was cycling past on my daily ride to find photos to post, despite the fact that it's in my own neighbourhood.


Post title from this song by Mark Otten.

Line of Work

Another shot of Coal Harbour and the "green roof" of the Vancouver Convention Centre. This graceful wood and metal installation by Jill Anholt is called Line of Work, a tribute to the workers that build British Columbia.

In the background you can see a float plane about to take off from the nearby seaplane base.

Post title from this song by QGMR.

King & Queen

Another Biennale piece. This one's along the seawall in Harbour Green Park. It's called The King and Queen, and is by Romanian-born Canadian artist Sorel Etrog. On the placard accompanying the installation is: "In this work the artist makes manifest the complex relationship between man and machinery and the conflict between individual agency in craft and industrialized mass manufacturing in the modern world."

It doesn't say anything at all about the statues being covered in muddy footprints.

In the background is the Westin Bayshore Hotel, Stanley Park, and Coal Harbour Marina.

For photos that show the entire piece, click here.

Post title from this song by Mary J. Blige featuring John Legend.