Giant red statue of bent over boy leaving Vancouver seawall after 2-year stay

A photo of "The Proud Youth" statue by Chinese artist Chen Wenling is leaving Vancouver's False Creek sea wall this week, 26 months after it was first installed as part of an open-air art exhibition. (Vancouver Biennale/ @triciabarkermep)

What’s red, 2.6-metres tall and making an exit 26 months after it first arrived in Vancouver?

“The Proud Youth” sculpture towering over the False Creek seawall, according to the public art organization Vancouver Biennale.

“Time to say goodbye! One of the most visited sculptures in our open-air exhibition will be de-installed May 3 through 5,” the local non-profit announced on social media Monday.

The red giant is the creation of Chinese artist Chen Wenling and part of his “Red Memories” series.

It’s named after the popular novel that, when translated from Chinese to English, means “to live in a carefree life in a mundane world of strife,” according to Vancouver Biennale’s website.

The larger-than-life statue was installed at the end of Drake Street in Yaletown in March 2021 as part of an open air exhibition, and was set to be removed two years later under an agreement with the city.

SHAPING THE SCULPTURES FUTURE

When the contract expired in March of this year, Vancouver Biennale made a proposal to donate the statue, along with 17 others, in hopes of making it a permanent fixture.

The deadline for the decision on that proposal is June 1, according to the organization’s director, Valerie Smaller.

“The Biennale wanted it to remain in place until a decision was made on the proposed 17-sculpture donation…but the city’s engineering and public art department said that this was not possible due to the terms of the two-year agreement with the COV, hence the Biennale and artist have had to incur the de-installation cost of $40,000,” Smaller wrote in an email to CTV News on Wednesday.

She says the artist, Wenling, has reduced his asking price for the statue from $780,000 USD to $450,000 USD “on the understanding and agreement the sculpture would remain in the city and in a high visibility, high biking and pedestrian corridor.”

Wenling is also the artist behind the sculpture “Boy Holding a Shark,” which is also one of the 17 statues being proposed as permanent fixtures in the city.

Should the mayor and council accept the donation, which is valued at $13 million, it wouldn’t be the first time private donors have ensured art stays in Vancouver.

The sculpture “A-maze-ing Laughter” by artist Yue Minjin that’s located at Morton Park at the south end of Denman Street was purchased from Vancouver Biennale by Lululemon founder Chip Wilson.

In addition, a collection of 16 stainless steel chairs designed by the Canadian sculptor Michel Goulet was donated to the city through BUSCHLEN Mowatt Nichol Foundation. It’s been installed on the beach at Kitsilano Point.

Similarily “The Family” by Jack Harman was gifted by private donors through Vancouver Biennale and installed at the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Granville Island location.

“Previous popular sculptures have been acquired by developers or collectors for Metro Vancouver communities like Surrey, Squamish, Richmond and North Vancouver, “ Smaller told CTV News.

She says a private donor has expressed interest in buying The Proud Youth, but the sale is dependent upon the location and the city accepting the donation.

Until The Proud Youth can be sold to a donor or collector, locally or globally, the Vancouver Biennale will put it in storage.

It’s up to the city to decide what, if anything, will replace the statue at its Yaletown location.