What is your immediate reaction to this image on the left? Mine was shock, but I think that is the point. What you’re looking at is a piece of art, sculpted of ice and water soluble pigment, created by Tyler Hodgins, in a showcase he calls Sleeping Bag.
Tyler is one of 5 British Columbia Artists selected for an exhibition titled Throw Down; an Art Forum “[using] sculpture, video, photography, drawing and public intervention to address socio-political issues, economic struggles, to invoke a call to action or an invitation to play”, according to Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
There will be 13 different sculptures placed in a new location every Saturday from February 4th to May 5th, so you still have 4 opportunities to see his work before the exhibition comes to a close. If you’re able, will you go view one of these life-like, life-sized sculptures that vividly represent a homeless person curled up in a sleeping bag on the streets of Canada? I hope you will, as I would if I could. You may click this link to download the 2 page PDF file for more information on Sleeping Bag and where you can see Tyler’s next piece.
I think the Sleeping Bag exhibition is awesome. It sparks awareness, it has shock value, and displays what is already around all of us, no matter what country we live in. Men, women and children do sleep on park benches, some in sleeping bags, some with nothing but the scarce clothes on their backs. And some die right there on the cold bench all alone. This displays the truth to those who may never see it, even those who go out of their way to ignore it.
I’m eager to hear what you think of this exhibit. Does this spark any feelings in you when you see the images? What if you were walking down the street and saw one of these on a park bench without knowing what it was; would you approach, ignore or call for help?
