New Vancouver public artwork by Swedish artist Henrik Håkansson unveiled
A Rock Divided was commissioned by esteemed architect Kengo Kuma for new Alberni building, which will also house new Japanese restaurant
THERE’S A NEW piece of public art catching people’s eyes in downtown Vancouver. A Rock Divided by Swedish artist Henrik Håkansson was commissioned for a new residential tower called Alberni by leading contemporary Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
A Rock Divided consists of a 6,000-pound granite boulder excavated from a quarry near Squamish B.C. that is cut into four equal sections sandwiched between panes of three-quarter-inch tempered glass. The intersecting glass creates a plinth, with the boulder suspended at eye level.
The rock and its reflection float, “as if mirroring the moving planet, an expression of the measure of time, weight and value, contrasting with its surroundings and the sky to create its own unique ecology”, according to a release. “The work seeks to reflect the seemingly static yet ever-changing relationship between the climate and our physical environment.”
Håkansson, who splits his time between Berlin, Germany, and Falkenberg, Sweden, has been exhibiting internationally since 1993. His new work was unveiled on May 10 during a ceremony that featured a performance by American-Japanese-Korean pianist Rachel Naomi Kudo.
It will also house the forthcoming Aburi Hana Vancouver. The restaurant by Aburi Restaurants Canada and Westbank features the same fine-dining ethos as Aburi's Michelin-star Aburi Hana in Toronto. At the same time, it will redefine what the group calls "washoku", or Japanese food culture, by harmoniously incorporating Japanese ingredients, seasonings, and cooking methods alongside local elements. The restaurant group has recruited a soon-to-be announced renowned chef from Japan to helm Aburi Hana Vancouver, who most recently served as sous chef at a Michelin two-star establishment. Next door and down the road, a second project by Aburi Restaurants Canada and Westbank will be added.
Related Articles
Mena El Shazly, Karice Mitchell, Dion Smith-Dokkie, Parumveer Walia, and Casey Wei shed light on their work
Hundreds of pieces will be for sale online and at CityScape Community ArtSpace, with each artist’s name remaining anonymous until after their work is purchased
Our roundup of seasonal fairs from downtown Vancouver to Deer Lake and Whistler, with unique gifts made by local artisans
Accolade presented by Artists for Kids and Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art recognizes Wallace’s profound impact on arts education
British Columbians are invited to Recognize Remarkable by nominating individuals and organizations committed to leading, creating, and making a difference
On its 10th anniversary, the Institute of Asian Art is renamed the Centre for Global Asias to reflect broader mandate
The “Witch Walk”, the new north-of-East Hastings hub, and food-truck spots, plus ways to beat the crowds
Event addresses the history of Lower Mainland farmworking with expert presentations, plant-bioelectricity music, poetry readings, and eco-printing
Founder Joleen Mitton reflects on the fifth iteration of an event that embraces designers like Pam Baker and Osamuskwasis Roan, as well as artistic and political ideas
Festive experience and shopping hub celebrates independent local makers with events throughout November and December
Annual holiday market to feature textile, ceramic, jewellery, print, apothecary, and homeware goods, plus food and drink vendors
The pilot project means five artists who are unable to open their studios to the public get to participate in the annual arts extravaganza
Linda Suffidy, Tristesse Seeliger, Helen Alex Murray, and Aurora Caher work across mediums to produce works with distinctive style
Exhibition at the organization’s new digs features immersive and interactive artworks by local and international artists
Dominican Republic-born, New York-based artist’s beautiful paintings make monumental space for the stories of the African diaspora in the Caribbean and America
Three Vancouver artists working in different media talk about finding inspiration in the culinary world
Publication co-curated by Dana Claxton and Curtis Collins is accompanied by an exhibition at the Audain Art Museum in Whistler
Artist-in-residence stages a performance that plays with power dynamics to mark the launch of her new book My Mother My Home
Subtitled Beauty Between the Lines, the film by Danny Berish and Ryan Mah digs deeper than the architect’s portfolio
This year’s multi-venue show is based on the theme of “green”
Launching new book at the Polygon Gallery, Canadian photographer has an eye for unchecked development and elusive nature
An online Silent Auction and the ever-popular Art Roulette offer vital support to the festival while celebrating Eastside artists
Showcase at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre unites Indigenous designers from across Turtle Island for runway shows and an Artisan Market
Appearing at Vancouver Writers Fest, the designer talks about a 40-year career that set the stage for today’s explosion of Indigenous fashion
The BC Achievement Foundation also recognized jeweller Meghan Weeks and ceramics artist Robin DuPont in its 20th annual program
Unveiled at Heffel Fine Art Auction House, War Canoes, Alert Bay, circa 1908, was held for many years in private collections
The show highlights a century of artistic vases