Oak Bay’s newest resident is creating a buzz at Causton’s Green park off Hampshire Road.
Sitting on a toilet, he’s got a cigarette in his mouth and is staring at a smartphone.
Reminiscent of Rodin’s The Thinker, but fashioned from recycled stainless steel cookware, Modern Man Does Research is a 2023 collaboration by two B.C. artists, conceptualized by Burnaby’s Ronald Victor Simmer and constructed by Vancouver’s Ezra Larsen.
Rocking flashy kicks and shiny shades, it’s one of nine sculptures scattered around Oak Bay as part of the district’s Arts Alive program, which is in its ninth year.
Arts Alive works are loaned to the district for up to a year. Between June and November, the public can vote for their favourite, with the top three considered for purchase by the municipality.
Posters in Oak Bay social-media forums shared their thoughts on Modern Man online. “The tin man has come a long way,” one user said.
“I love this. What a commentary on the ‘I did my own research’ phenomenon that plagues modern society.”
“I walk by it every day and cringe. Toilet humour as public art is not my thing,” said another.
One person said the sculpture made them think. “And I appreciate the creativity that went into reusing metal objects to make something so eye catching (let’s face it, it’s pretty noticeable!) and whimsical and serious.”
Another poster, however, called Modern Man “tacky.”
Someone else had a more positive take, calling the sculpture “incredible” and saying it “definitely hits the mark.”
“Is this one titled The Stinker?” one poster quipped.
While Simmer and Larsen did not respond to a request for comment, Simmer’s website describes the work as a “thought-provoking sculpture that critiques modern society’s obsession with trivial distractions.”
It said the piece reflects on how the most connected civilization in history finds itself “spiralling down the toilet while distracted by narcissistic trivia.”
Modern Man is typical of Simmer’s work, often attention-grabbing societal critiques highlighting themes of sustainability through repurposing discarded materials.
Each Arts Alive sculpture is up for sale during the display period and will be available to be claimed after the exhibition.
A few of the works that can be found across Oak Bay this year include: Cosmos Wheels by Doug R. Taylor, an aluminum sculpture in McNeill Bay; Take Flight 2.0 by West Coast Arts, a three-metre sculpture on Oak Bay Avenue at Hampshire depicting seven butterflies; and Baba Yaga Little Free Library by Erick James, a mini-library on bird legs at Newport Avenue and Windsor Road with a selection of books that have been challenged or banned in Canada over the years.
For a complete list of the artwork this year, check the Arts Alive tab in Community and Culture at oakbay.ca.
