Photo by Dan Fairchild
Michel Goulet, "Echoes"
Michel Goulet, "Echoes"
“Michel Goulet represents exactly what the Biennale means when we talk about using public art as a foundation for community building”, said Barrie Mowatt, President of the Vancouver Biennale. “With Echoes he turns the everyday chair into a poetic sculpture that invites us to come together to interact as neighbours. We are inspired by his multi-disciplinary approach to sculpture, poetry and theatre design, and his many accomplishments internationally. As the second major legacy gift that the Biennale has facilitated from this exhibition, Goulet is a great Canadian artist and his iconic chair sculpture a great addition to this city.”
“Vancouver Park Board thanks the Vancouver Biennale and Michel Goulet for adding a touch of artistic whimsy to Kits Beach, where people can sit, converse and enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the city while experiencing these iconic chair sculptures,” said Sarah Blyth, Vancouver Park Board Chair. “We are pleased that this acclaimed work will continue to delight park visitors, people will enjoy interacting with it for many decades to come."
This donation is made possible through the generosity of the artist, the BUSCHLEN MOWATT FOUNDATION and the Vancouver Biennale Legacy Foundation.
Note: Michel Goulet will be receiving the Order of Canada May 2013.
About the Artwork
‘ECHOES’ is a series of 16 one-of-a-kind stainless steel chairs created exclusively for the Vancouver Biennale Open Air Museum in 2005 by Canadian artist Michel Goulet. Each chair is unique in design and has an inscription in French and English reflecting aphorisms of everyday emotions and dreamlike thoughts. The chairs have been positioned to encourage human interaction and communication and installed so that when sunlight hits them at the perfect angle, the phrases and aphorisms are projected onto the ground below as one large poem. The artwork was originally part of the Vancouver Biennale 2005-2007 exhibition, then re-installed at this site by the artist in 2010.
About the Artist
Michel Goulet is one of Québec's best-known sculptors in Canada and throughout the world. He uses traditional sculptural techniques to create installations based on recognizable everyday objects that encourage public participation. Goulet has an extensive national and international exhibition history including representing Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1988. He received Quebec’s Paul-Émile Borduas career award in 1990, Canada’s Governor General’s Award in 2008 and in May 2013 will receive the Order of Canada. He has taught at the University of Ottawa and at Université du Québec à Montréal and has designed sets for theatre and opera.
About the Vancouver Biennale
The Vancouver Biennale Open Air Museum is an outdoor exhibition of contemporary art, new media and performance works by some of the world’s most renowned and breakthrough artists of our time, freely accessible for people of all ages to enjoy where they live, work, play and transit. The objective is to use great art to encourage exploration, inspire learning and provoke the imagination of all who experience it.
