241.5 ARC x 2
Bernar Venet (France)
Description
Title: 241.5 Arc x 2
Artist: Bernar Venet (b. 1941, France)
Medium: 2 corten steel arcs
Dimensions: 225 (H) x 216 (W) x 20 (D) cm (88 3/4 x 85 x 8 inches)
Location: 884 East Georgia Street in Vancouver
October 10, 2023: This is the first Vancouver Biennale art installation in Vancouver’s Eastside neighbourhood of Strathcona, made possible through a partnership with the Creative Cultural Collaborations (3C) Society.
Bernar Venet’s monumental work 241.5 Arc x 2 is part of his Arc series of sculptures, which illustrate the beauty, balance, and malleability of raw steel. The name of this artwork is a precise description of its mathematical composition. The beams in the sculpture are nested and curved to the same angle, providing a sense of balance and grace. Venet employs mathematical manipulations of this industrial material to explore the interconnected relationships amongst nature, humanity, and the universe. The curves give a resting yet rhythmic sense of movement and fluidity.
“It’s great to see a sculpture by an international star of the Contemporary art world be situated somewhere other than the expected affluent, touristy areas of the city,” says Barrie Mowatt, Founder and Artistic Director of the Vancouver Biennale. “We use the phrase art in unexpected places because the Biennale has always believed that culturally inspired public space is a key contributor to transforming neighbourhoods.”
Esther Rausenberg and Richard Tetrault, Co-Artistic Directors of Creative Cultural Collaborations Society (C3), stated, “We are excited to see a work of this caliber situated in Strathcona, in the Eastside Arts District. Few public artworks have been installed east of Main Street. We hope this is the beginning of many more placements in this community.”
241.5 Arc x 2 is the second Venet sculpture to be exhibited publicly within the city of Vancouver. 217.5 Arc x 13 is situated in Sunset Beach Park in the West End.
Installation Timelapse
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