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DiaporamaThe Ice Storm
Contemporary Minimalism
548.0 x 304.0 cm
Vancouver Art Gallery
In January 1998 a massive ice storm struck eastern Canada and the United States, causing extensive damage to electrical infrastructure as well as widespread, long-term power outages. Many transmission towers collapsed under the weight of the ice; these massive, crumpled towers—which were part of an essential network holding this vast country together—were a testament to the crushing force of the elements. Coupland has recreated a tower that fell victim to the ice storm, a strangely elegant and biomorphic form that serves as a metaphor for the frailty that characterizes some of the national systems that bind us together. Through a wide range of media including assemblage, installation, painting, photography, sculpture and quilts, Coupland has persistently investigated Canadian cultural identity, both benign and menacing. Using imagery and objects latent with symbolic meaning for Canadians, he delineates what it means to be Canadian, offering a “secret handshake” not easily understood by others.
Douglas Coupland (1961 –)
Douglas Coupland: Canadian novelist & visual artist exploring Gen X, digital culture & modern life. Known for QR code art, sculptures & thought-provoking pieces exhibited globally.
Vancouver Art Gallery (Vancouver, Canada)
Home to an unparalleled collection of Emily Carr's masterpieces and world-class photography, the Vancouver Art Gallery offers a profound journey through Canadian and international art that invites you to explore its beauty.
About this artwork
- Title: The Ice Storm
- Artist: Douglas Coupland
- Original dimensions: 548.0 x 304.0 cm
- Format: Landscape
- Copyright status: Under copyright
- Where to see it: Vancouver Art Gallery
- Movement: Contemporary Minimalism
- Keywords: minimalist art , metal sculpture” , ice storm sculpture
- Color hue: Green Spectrum
- Color intensity: Balanced
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