While the weather is sunny it is the perfect time to walk along the marina near the Yaletown Roundhouse and the base of Davie street. On the land developed by Concord Pacific Development group you will find a number of art installations that were commissioned by the developers as part of the agreement made with the city. Along the seawall just southwest of the base of Davie Street there is an aluminum letters and fibre optic cable installation by Henry Tsang called Welcome to the Land of Light. The installation is presented in English and Chinook, the language developed for trading purposes in the 19th century between traders and First Nations People.
As you walk along a curved seawall offset from the main walking path, you pass by the following thought provoking phrases:
GREETING GOOD YOU ARRIVE HERE WHERE LIGHT BE UNDER
LAND FUTURE IT BE NOW
HERE YOU BEGIN LIVE LIKE NEW
WHERE PEOPLE TALK DIFFERENT BUT GOOD TOGETHER
IF YOUR HEART MIND OPEN YOU RECEIVE NEW KNOWLEDGE
YOU HAVE SAME LIKE ELECTRIC EYE AND HEART MIND AND TALK SOUND
YOU LIVE FAST LIKE LIGHT
SEE TALK BE HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE AT ONE TIME
US MAKE THIS COMMUNITY GOOD INDEED
YOU NOT AFRAID HERE
HERE YOU BEGIN
LIVE LIKE CHIEF
WORLD SAME LIKE IN YOUR HAND
The installation proposes challenges to passersby every time they walk the seawall to think about their interactions with this community. In this way, the installation is a success. Surely we need more public art installations like this one. Adults and children alike can read these phrases, choose their favourite and discuss the meanings of each one with their walking partner. It’s art on the go.
Fabulous!
Related
Henry Tsang Welcome to the Land of Light information page
For more information about the art installations in this area refer to Paddling Through History: Sea Kayak Vancouver and Victoria by Aileen Stalker and Andrew Nolan