A-maze-ing Laughter

A-maze-ing Laughter
The installation in 2013
Map
ArtistYue Minjun
Year2009 (2009)
TypeSculpture
MediumBronze
SubjectYue Minjun
Dimensions259 cm (102 in) tall
LocationVancouver, British Columbia
Coordinates49°17′15″N 123°08′31″W / 49.2876°N 123.142°W / 49.2876; -123.142
OwnerCity of Vancouver

A-maze-ing Laughter is a 2009 bronze sculpture by Yue Minjun, located in Morton Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1][2][3]

Description

A-maze-ing Laughter was designed by Yue Minjun and installed in Morton Park (Davie and Denman) along the English Bay in West End, Vancouver in 2009. The patinated bronze sculpture, composed of 14 statues each about three meters tall and weighing over 250 kilograms,[4] portrays the artist's own image "in a state of hysterical laughter".[1] It was created as part of the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, which exhibits international contemporary works in public spaces. The sculpture was donated to the City of Vancouver by Chip and Shannon Wilson through the Wilson5 Foundation on August 11, 2012.[1]

As part of the installation, an inscription carved into cement seating states "May this sculpture inspire laughter playfulness and joy in all who experience it."[5]

Reception

A-maze-ing Laughter was nominated in the Great Places in Canada Contest 2013 and was the only work of public art to receive a nomination.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "A-maze-ing Laughter". Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale. 4 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  2. ^ Hutchinson, Brian (2012-08-10). "Why are you laughing? $1.5M secures Vancouver's beloved smiling statues, but what do they really mean?". National Post. Postmedia Network. ISSN 1486-8008. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  3. ^ "Public art brochure: A-maze-ing Laughter" (PDF). City of Vancouver. 2015-09-24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  4. ^ Graveland, Bill (2014-08-18). "English Bay a beacon for runners, sunbathers and sightseers in Vancouver". Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  5. ^ Richardson, Don (2013-08-05). "Four Years of A-maze-ing Laughter". Vol. 13, no. 26. Archived from the original on 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2019-09-26.