Growing up in Vancouver, regardless of where, you understand the not so subtle differences between east and west.
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| "Monument to East Vancouver" by Ken Lum |
Closer-knit dwellings with light industrial store-fronts illustrating the apparent cultural diversity of the area on one side and on the other you find wide-open spaces, houses with large lawns and chic boutiques.
Until recently, property value was the definitive factor between east and west, but with the escalating pr ices of real estate, the divide between them is now blurred.
It was this dichotomy between east and west that intrigued artist Ken Lum to design what he calls a cultural ‘marker’. The cross design of the words ‘east’ and ‘van’ each share an ‘a’ in the middle, was commissioned as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the 2010 Olympics.
Ken explained in a recent artist talk at the Vancouver Art Gallery that the cross is in reference to the working class catholic inhabitants of the east side of Vancouver in the 1940’s and 50’s, but since then the diversity of ethnic backgrounds has definitely changed and thus the cross takes on many more meanings.
Interestingly he did not come up with the actual image as it has been found in graffiti tags across the east side for years; however it was important for him to showcase the hushed differences as a symbolic reminder for generations to come.
As a city changes, gentrifies and revitalizes itself, it is more important than ever before to have references to the past, to remind us of pivotal points in history that marks the very apparent changes.
Check out this Youtube video on the making of the sculpture.
