Art is potent. It has the power to move us, mould us, and make us weak.
But sometimes we have a complicated relationship with a piece of art. It isn't always love at first sight.
A Vancouver woman described a soaring, vibrant piece of public art that she sees every day from her balcony as "fugly."
Michelle Cooper responded to a call-out in one of Vancouver Is Awesome's newsletters recently by asking if we could look into a statuesque mural she sees daily from her north-facing apartment in the Fairview neighbourhood.
"Facing north and seeing the city, mountains and ocean is heaven. So who in their right mind approved this '80's Sun Ice ski jacket coloured massive mural amidst all that beauty?" she asked.
"Most people I have surveyed are as much at a loss as I am. Fugly is the only word that comes to mind."
Cooper, who originally hails from Alberta, told V.I.A. that she enjoys an unobstructed view of Downtown Vancouver. "Sunsets are golden and, once in a while, I get a teasing peek of Vancouver Island."
Before she moved into her new apartment, Cooper said she'd never noticed the mural. Now, she saw it daily "hanging out with the two majestic lions, the ocean and the three ski hills, kind of like a new friend trying to fit in. My first thought was of 1980s colours and then I thought of my Sun Ice ski outfit from 1986 in particular."
Photo courtesy of Michelle CooperFinger Paint
After writing to V.I.A., however, Cooper did a bit of research and discovered that ONNI is the building developer. Entitled "Finger Paint," the artist, Elizabeth McIntosh, completed it in June 2018.
"The grammatical space between finger and paint is purposeful, as it was created on a touchpad," she explained. "Go finger."
And how does Cooper feel about the "fugly" piece today?
"Needless to say, after researching the background, today I have a different perspective. Yes, art is all about perspective but perspective is also about evolving, isn’t it? I feel evolved today. Today I am choosing to embrace it and quite honestly I’m embracing the pretty cool 1980’s memories it evoked in me."
Cooper added that she also connected with a past ski buddy and enjoyed a few moments of happy memories from the ’80s, too.
"Tomorrow, I will wake up and it will still be there. Tomorrow, however, I might actually say good morning to my new mural and my old ski jacket, which was quite honestly, my favourite ski outfit ever."
