Monument for East Vancouver

Vancouver artist Ken Lum created the sculpture title Monument for East Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Land-marking and mapping Campaign. The work composed on a large scale cross, that can be found at the crest of East 6th Avenue and Clark Drive. The image land mark for East Vancouver displays 'EAST' vertical and 'VAN' horizontally using the ‘A’ twice to form a cross. The 20 meter tall sign's comprises LED lights that illuminate at night so it can be seen from significant distances and multiple views points. Lum ideally wanted the sign to be displayed on main street but community ruling felt it would be too large for the area.





Lum had had the idea for some time to install the piece for sometime because he felt East Vancouver itself had been 'short changed' when it came to public art. The image itself was not created by Lum but was a representation of the symbol that dates back to the 1940's when many European Immigrants moved to East Vancouver. Many of immigrants were Catholic and it is theorized that is where the religious nature of the cross icon in East Vancouver appears from. Lum himself grew up on the East side of Vancouver and remembered seeing the symbol as a child and always wanted to repeat the symbol in his artwork.

        The piece has been described as a installation of pride for resident residing on the East side but this was not Lum's intention. Lum has stated it is meant to acknowledge the struggle and suffering that is experienced on the East Side. As the Biblical cross represents struggle, suffering, and strength, as Jesus suffered on the cross, the art work is displaying how many living on the East side, and anywhere else in Vancouver for that matter, struggle and suffer in life.

       The installation has multiple associations including religion, irreverence, and is an assertion of the east-side identity. The symbols has also become popular and is widely used in art work, on clothing, and in gang taggings. The Art has faced criticism from many different individuals unhappy with the re-emergence of graffiti tags and the biblical notion used. Despite the debate the piece has sparked the art work it is an important landmark in Vancouver because it represent a part of our city and our cities history that Vancouverites are proud to display and acknowledge. The art work can be seen from kilometers away and is a lasting symbol of all the character Vancouver has.