Lost in thought do these iron figures mirror our own journeys? Here at Cambie Street and Broadway stand the Walking Figures. They are a powerful statement by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. These aren’t just sculptures. They are a reflection on time loss and the human condition.
The Walking Figures appear to walk without a destination. They evoke a sense of somber reflection. Abakanowicz created these figures. She intended them to address transformation and loss of the individual within a group. This speaks to the shaping of our world throughout history.
Originally there were twenty figures. They were cast in an industrial foundry in Poland. Abakanowicz herself directed the process. She ensured that each figure was unique. She applied and manipulated the figurative frame of each one. No two figures are exactly alike. Each possesses its own distinct identity.
The Vancouver Biennale commissioned these Walking Figures for its 2005-2007 exhibition. Initially they were installed in Queen Elizabeth Park. Later some were moved here near the Broadway City Hall Canada Line Station. The figures have even traveled. Six were loaned to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. They were part of an open-air museum exhibit. Also three figures were loaned to Arts on the Avenue in Edmonton.
A larger group of similar figures exists. It is titled Agora. It is on permanent display in Chicago’s Grant Park. Agora was a meeting place in ancient Greece. It is where the concept of democracy began.
These Walking Figures weigh 650 kg each. That is 1433 lbs. They stand approximately 284 cm tall. That is 112 inches. Their imposing size adds to their gravitas.
Currently only five Walking Figures remain from the original installation. The Vancouver Biennale hopes these figures will become a permanent part of Vancouver’s public art collection. A philanthropic donation could make this possible.
The sale of these sculptures supports the Vancouver Biennale. It helps fund their initiatives and the International Artist Residency Program. Abakanowicz intended the sculptures to provide this revenue.
These headless figures invite interpretation. They encourage us to contemplate our place in the world. They prompt reflection on our shared human experience. What do you see in these Walking Figures? Do they represent our collective journey through time? They stand as a testament to art’s ability to transform public space.