50 » OpenRoad Driver
Marcus Bowcott, speaks to our consumer “out with the old, in
with the new” culture in relation to its site, history and Vancouver’s
evolving identity. Adds Bowcott, “The automobile holds a unique
position in our culture. It’s a manufactured want and symbol of
extremes; practicality and luxury, necessity and waste. We can see
this in the muscular Trans Am, the comfortable BMW, and the
workhorse Civic. Trans Am Totem also questions the cycle of
production and consumption.”
Trans Am Totem is located at Vancouver’s Quebec Street and
Milross Avenue, a site transformed for Expo 86 from an industrial
zone to a hub of transportation interconnections. Historically, it
was a shoreline of tidal flats and massive forest in the vicinity of
Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Watuth Nations. Inspired by that,
Bowcott stacked the five cars on an old-growth cedar complete with
a bear claw carving by Xwalacktun (Rick Harry) of the Squamish
Nation. Bowcott and his wife Helene Aspinall worked two years on
the scrap cars to reduce load, paint and wire them for solar lighting.
Human Structures is located in Hinge Park next to Vancouver’s
Olympic Village. American artist Jonathan Borofsky explores
the notion of humanity working together to build our world. The
series of brightly coloured and interconnected figures, conveys a
sense of universal connectivity. Human Structures marks the artist’s
first realization of multiple groupings. Through it he says he seeks
to nurture a sense of public positivity, “As the central structure
stretches up to the sky, two smaller configurations form preliminary
foundations, alluding to a continuous cycle of growth.”
To plan your tour of public art, visit vancouverbiennale.com. We
might suggest riding in an Audi A7 to make your tour that much
more enjoyable.
“Vancouver Biennale aims to create a legacy of one
or two significant artworks per Biennale for partner
communities. We want to ensure everyone has access
to the OPEN AIR MUSEUM. The only way we can
create this legacy is via the sale of the artwork. As
in the case with the founders of Lululemon, Chip and
Shannon Wilson, a benefactor or a corporation can buy
the artwork and allow the Biennale to donate it to the
respective city in their names.”
Barrie Mowatt, Vancouver Biennale