First artists selected for Broadway Subway Project art installations

THE Broadway Subway Project has taken another step forward, as three artists and one team have been selected to create art installations for four upcoming SkyTrain stations, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced on Wednesday.

A two-phase procurement process began in 2020 with an open call to artists and teams residing in Canada for art that will be showcased at the Great Northern Way-Emily Carr, Mount Pleasant, Broadway-City Hall and South Granville stations. The competition selection panel was comprised of visual art professionals and representatives from the Province, the City of Vancouver and TransLink.

Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station

Lou Sheppard is a Canadian artist working in interdisciplinary audio, performance and installation-based practice. He often looks to what is missing or can no longer be experienced in a particular place, creating art that memorializes characteristics that once existed in the area surrounding the installation. Sheppard will engage Emily Carr University of Art and Design students in conceptual development and/or artwork production.

Mount Pleasant Station

Sylvan Hamburger grew up in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood and was always surrounded by actors and artists. At age seven, one of his drawings was used as a poster for a theatre, sparking an interest in drawing, printing and creating that has lasted to this day. He works primarily with printmaking techniques, salvaged materials, textiles and installations.

Broadway-City Hall Station

The artist team is Theatre Replacement (James Long and Maiko Yamamoto), in collaboration with Vanessa Kwan, Remy Siu and Cindy Mochizuki. Specializing in interactive media, animation, video, live performance and installation, the Broadway Subject Project marks the first time this team of five artists has collaborated on a project.

South Granville Station

Vancouver-born Derek Root is a graduate of Emily Carr University of Art and Design and has exhibited across Canada and internationally. His commissioned work uses the language of geometric abstraction and vibrant colour to alter viewers’ readings of architecture and space.

In addition, the Province is working with Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation on a separate and parallel process for Indigenous art for the Broadway Subway Project. The Cultural Recognition Program includes art across six stations, with prominent Indigenous artworks planned for Arbutus, Oak-VGH and Great Northern Way-Emily Carr stations.

Concepts for all artworks will be revealed at a future date. Artists will work to complete designs in co-ordination with final station designs and technical details related to installation.

The Broadway Subway Project is a 5.7-kilometre extension of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark Station to Broadway and Arbutus, adding six stations along the line.

It will provide fast, frequent and convenient SkyTrain service to B.C.’s second-largest jobs centre, world-class health-care services, an emerging innovation and research hub, and growing residential communities.

Construction is underway and on schedule for the line to be in service in 2025.

Learn More:

Broadway Subway Project: broadwaysubway.ca