GESAMTKUNSTWERK

Westbank has built a practice around long-term commitments to artistry, sustainability and city-building. These commitments underlie an orientation towards projects like Woodwards, Vancouver House, Mirvish Village, Telus Garden and Oakridge – catalysts for larger change that go beyond the borders of the projects themselves. We are here to create. To provoke. To ignite. We are the vehicle for a new movement of cultural expression.

As the practice matures, we have become more ambitious. With every new project reflecting our commitment to the philosophy behind Gesamkunstwerk, or in our recent work the Japanese philosophy behind layering, the net effect is that our work becomes much more complex and far-reaching.

The core of Westbank’s mission is to create a body of work with a high degree of artistry that helps foster more equitable and beautiful cities. Westbank is active across Canada and in the United States, with projects including luxury residential, Five Star hotels, retail, office, rental, district energy systems, affordable housing initiatives and public art. Established in 1992, we are one of North America’s leading developers, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Seattle, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and over 25 billion dollars of projects completed or under development.

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December 02, 2015

“Spinning Chandelier,” by Vancouver artist Rodney Graham approved by Vancouver City Council

“Spinning Chandelier,” by Vancouver artist Rodney Graham is a kinetic sculpture that will transform the vast, cathedral-like spaces under the Granville Bridge.

Graham’s sculpture extends from his 2005 35-fi lm loop installation Torqued Chandelier Release in which a crystal chandelier whirls rapidly as its supporting cable is unwound. Installed under the bridge above the intersection of lower Granville with Beach Avenues, the large (4 x 6 metres; 13 x 20 feet) will be faux glass recreation of the film’s 18th century French chandelier will slowly rotate and rise over the course of twenty-four hours, then once a day release and dynamically spin back to its starting point.

Graham is best known as a member of the internationally renowned “Vancouver School’ of photoconceptualism, which includes artists Roy Arden, Stan Douglas, Ken Lum, Jeff Wall, Ian Wallace and others. His “Spinning Chandelier” will quickly become one of Vancouver’s most celebrated public art installations.

Westbank will now spend 18 months designing the chandelier, which must be vetted by engineers who will review its safety and potential impact on traffic.

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