Monument To East Man
Type: Sculpture
Medium: Rhino + Grasshopper
Material: MDF + Plywood + Laser cut aluminum + Steel + Acrylic + LEDs + Cedar
Year: 2024
Medium: Rhino + Grasshopper
Material: MDF + Plywood + Laser cut aluminum + Steel + Acrylic + LEDs + Cedar
Year: 2024
The Concept
Monument To East Man is a sculptural exploration of context-based identity, orientalism versus occidentalism, and the immigrant experience. The work is directly inspired by the Monument to East Van by artist Ken Lum, a public artwork based on mid-century graffiti that has come to represent the working-class neighbourhoods of East Vancouver. By reinterpreting this highly localized symbol, the sculpture asks questions about cultural borders and belonging.
Like the original installation, this piece is oriented in the east and faces westward toward the center of the city. It acts as a beacon, inviting curious travellers to look east and reconsider the narratives attached to the immigrant journey.
The Computation
Replicating and adapting a monumental public artwork into a scaled format requires reverse engineering physical reality into a precise digital model. To ensure the proportions remained faithful to the original East Van cross, the exact geometry was derived through a combination of photographic scaling and on-site laser measuring of the existing steel structure.
Once the baseline measurements were established in Rhino, custom Grasshopper scripts were developed to generate the complex surface patterning. This parametric workflow allowed for rapid iterations of the geometric texture before committing to physical materials. The final fabrication integrated laser-cut aluminum, CNC routed MDF, cedar posts, steel bar, custom steel plate, acrylic, and programmable LEDs. This required tight digital tolerances across the 3D model to guarantee all multi-material components aligned perfectly during final assembly.
Monument To East Man is a sculptural exploration of context-based identity, orientalism versus occidentalism, and the immigrant experience. The work is directly inspired by the Monument to East Van by artist Ken Lum, a public artwork based on mid-century graffiti that has come to represent the working-class neighbourhoods of East Vancouver. By reinterpreting this highly localized symbol, the sculpture asks questions about cultural borders and belonging.
Like the original installation, this piece is oriented in the east and faces westward toward the center of the city. It acts as a beacon, inviting curious travellers to look east and reconsider the narratives attached to the immigrant journey.
The Computation
Replicating and adapting a monumental public artwork into a scaled format requires reverse engineering physical reality into a precise digital model. To ensure the proportions remained faithful to the original East Van cross, the exact geometry was derived through a combination of photographic scaling and on-site laser measuring of the existing steel structure.
Once the baseline measurements were established in Rhino, custom Grasshopper scripts were developed to generate the complex surface patterning. This parametric workflow allowed for rapid iterations of the geometric texture before committing to physical materials. The final fabrication integrated laser-cut aluminum, CNC routed MDF, cedar posts, steel bar, custom steel plate, acrylic, and programmable LEDs. This required tight digital tolerances across the 3D model to guarantee all multi-material components aligned perfectly during final assembly.
