Dear Colleagues,
What is happening?
The AGO is poised to install a bold new sculpture by acclaimed contemporary artist Brian Jungen, after many years in development.
Site preparation will begin this week, and the sculpture will be installed in late June.
This work is the AGO’s first-ever public art commission and will be situated at the corner of Dundas and McCaul Streets – the former setting for Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms (1966–1969).
Stay tuned for information about celebratory moments in late June to welcome this important work to its new home!
About the sculpture
- Entitled Couch Monster: Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill, Jungen’s new sculpture is a monument to creative form and engineering.
- In his first large-scale work in bronze, Jungen constructed the figure of an elephant from discarded leather sofas.
- After completing construction in his studio in March 2020, the full-sized model was then transported to the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington State to be cast in bronze.
- The finished sculpture will travel to Toronto at the end of May, and we plan to install the sculpture over the weekend of June 18 and 19.
About the site
- Staff and volunteers can expect to see changes to the corner of Dundas and McCaul starting this week.
- A landscaping firm will commence with modifying the site to receive the sculpture. The area of work will be contained using protective fencing.
- In addition to the sculpture, we will be planting three new healthy trees in the circular beds just outside the McCaul Street Entrance.
- Benches will be temporarily removed and later returned when the sculpture is in place.
We hope this refreshed corner will become a new meeting place for the surrounding neighbourhood and for our AGO visitors, staff and volunteers.
Questions?
If there are questions about this project, please reach out to Laura Comerford, Associate Director, Exhibitions. Thank you!
Laura Comerford (she/her)