English Bay's A-maze-ing Laughter sculpture gets Pride-bombed

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      The laughing men otherwise known as the A-maze-ing Laughter sculpture got a queer remix just in time for Pride.

      The jovial figures, created by contemporary artist Yue Minjun located at Morton Park at the intersection of Davie and Denman streets, first appeared as part of the Vancouver Biennale 2009-11. A $1.5-million donation in 2012 from Shannon and Chip Wilson, the Vancouver-based founder of lululemon, helped to keep the art piece at English Bay.

      The sculptures previously sported wigs in 2011 when artist and hair stylist Trevor Sand gave the figures a chic makeover.

      Just in time for the Vancouver Pride parade on Sunday (August 4), the figures appear to have been knit-bombed. They've been adorned in fluorescent knitted outfits, ranging from a cone bra to a hawt Borat-style mankini to a chest harness. And all in rainbow fruit flavours!

      The site (which is currently fenced off) had recently been undergoing improvements over the past few months.

      Were these outfits planned as part of the upgrades?

      Hmm, well, we do know that the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation did create a Trans and Gender-Variant Inclusion Working Group in May to help make parks more accessible.... Could this be what they had in mind?

      Whatever the case may be, happy Pride and lots of laughter to all!

      Craig Takeuchi
      Craig Takeuchi
      Craig Takeuchi
      Craig Takeuchi

      Comments

      18 Comments

      Margo

      Aug 4, 2013 at 2:36pm

      Sad. If a straight person dressed them up they would face criminal charges of vandalizing.

      Yarn Bomber

      Aug 4, 2013 at 4:20pm

      What's sad, Margo, is the blatant homophobia coming through in your comment.

      First off, the swimwear WAS created and installed by a group of STRAIGHT people. I know this, because I am one of them.

      Second, it's not vandalism. It's about as harmless as stringing lights on a tree at Christmastime, which I'm quite certain you would not find to be a criminal act. The statues were not damaged in any way, nor is the yarn permanent. It can easily be untied or cut, without leaving a trace.

      Third, there are precedents for these statues being decorated. Last year, the Lifesaving Society dressed the statues up in lifejackets, and the previous year, a hairstylist created wigs for them.

      The inscription at the site of the statues reads "May this sculpture inspire laughter playfulness and joy in all who experience it." I can't think of a better way to celebrate that spirit on Pride Weekend.

      a straight person

      Aug 4, 2013 at 5:38pm

      No Margo, what's sad is your comment.
      They were not 'vandalized'. They hung what looks to me like knitted clothing on the bodies. Easily removed with someone possessing 2 fingers. No spray paint, nothing broken, not tipped over.
      Come on girl...smile!

      Matt

      Aug 4, 2013 at 5:39pm

      And truth be told, i like it, but there is the fact that the fenced off area was violated

      Yarn Bomber

      Aug 4, 2013 at 6:27pm

      Matt, what makes the comment homophobic in my mind is Margo's assumption that the yarn bombing must have been committed by a gay person (because only gay people support Pride??), and that had the yarn bombing been executed by a straight person, rather than a gay person, there would have been criminal charges.

      But we needn't worry, because Canadian law treats us all as equals, regardless of our sexual orientation, and despite Margo's assertions to the contrary.

      Alan Layton

      Aug 4, 2013 at 7:55pm

      I hope this becomes a tradition for the parade. I can't see why anybody would seriously have a problem with this.

      Evann Gentry

      Aug 4, 2013 at 8:43pm

      Not to mention Matt/Margo... you need to do a better job of researching your comments before posting them to a public forum.

      Margo, homophobic: prejudiced, fearful or otherwise intolerant of an homosexual person or act. Someone who holds an aversion to..

      Matt, Mischief: obstruct or interfere with personal property.

      If you're referring to the yarn bombing in the linked video you posted, police don't set legal precedent, courts do. And anyway, no one was charged with anything in that example; the video clearly explains that the 'yarn bombing' took place on privately owned property and you can hear the peace officer tell the ladies that the NCC requested it be removed. Jesus, lighten the eff up.

      a straight person again

      Aug 4, 2013 at 8:54pm

      Matt...come on man, you sound like a damn lawyer arguing your case in court.
      Lighten up.

      Johnny

      Aug 4, 2013 at 9:11pm

      I am the straightest man on the planet and that is funny. No harm done, no damage and the use of public property to make people smile.

      Maybe whoever did this could auction whatever it is for charity.