Friday, January 15, 2010

Lookin' Good: Ken Lum's East Van sign


There's a nice set of images up on Graham Barron Design's blog of Ken Lum's East Van signs, which went up this past week in Vancouver. Also a nice discussion of the points it's raising in the city. Worth a read! Wish I was there to see it.

Image from Graham Barron Design

6 comments:

L.M. said...

That is a brilliant piece.

Leah Sandals said...

Indeedy!

Anonymous said...

Awful, awful, awful. I am embarrassed for my neighbourhood. A gang symbol that will be interpreted by people who don't know any better as a religious one. Wonderful.

Leah Sandals said...

Hey Anonymous,

Thanks for your comment... I hadn't thought about the piece that way... but opening up text/symbols/signs for different interpretations or usages does seem to be part of Lum's oeuvre. So maybe he's happy with that? Who knows?

Graphically, the piece/symbol is (unfortunately for you, I guess), really strong. It sticks in the mind... an effective "brand" I guess, though attaching meaning to that brand is different for different people.

What do your neighbours think? Have you guys talked about this?

Entson said...

check out the comments
http://www.citycaucus.com/2010/01/east-van-no-rules

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/westcoast-life/constructs+icon+rule+over+East+Vancouver/2265765/story.html

http://www.straight.com/article-281162/vancouver/what-heck-east-van-cross

Check out another EastVan icon :
http://www.daytonboots.com/history
and the video
http://www.daytonboots.com/dayton_story

"East Van" - By Chris Walter http://www.punkhistorycanada.ca/CONTENT/view.php?cat_id=15&art_id=105


the Woodward's sign - is back! http://www.globaltvbc.com/Woodward+sign+lights+tonight/2447209/story.html

Leah Sandals said...

Whoa. Thanks Entson,