This is a look back at how Brian Jungen‘s monumental elephant sculpture made out of couches, and then bronzed, came to be. It was the first-ever public art commission by the Art Gallery of Ontario. Couch Monster: Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill 2022 is a riveting work from one of Canada’s most creative artists.
Jungen is an award-winning sculptor of Dane-zaa and Swiss ancestry based in the North Okanagan of British Columbia. His first large-scale work in bronze, the elephant has been called a poetic tribute to the plight of captive creatures since it models a performing circus elephant.
Jungen decided to work with leather couches and chairs after seeing discarded furniture piled on Toronto sidewalks,” the AGO said at the time. “Finishing the work in bronze is both an homage to British sculptor Henry Moore – whose work Jungen has long admired and engaged with – and a material interest in how, over time, bronze comes to resemble leather,” the gallery said. Above, detail of the bronzed second hand couches and other furniture used.
The pandemic separated the artist from his work
Jungen completed a full-size prototype in his studio in early 2020, and it was transported to the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington state to be cast in bronze. But it had barely arrived at the foundry before the border closed due to the pandemic, and Jungen was separated from his work.
Jungen communicated with the foundry remotely, from across the border, on the details for completion of his work in bronze.
It was two years before Jungen saw his elephant again.
Watch the Couch Monster’s story in this YouTube video
Jungen was inspired by the story of Jumbo, a captive circus elephant killed by a train in St. Thomas, Ont., in 1885. “Jungen calls this creature a couch monster because captivity of any kind is transformative and will inevitably break the spirit and will of the captured,” the gallery said. The work’s Dane-zaa subtitle, Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill, translates as “my heart is ripping.”
The Couch Monster’s spot at the AGO is where Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms once sat. (This by the way is the sculpture often identified as the inspiration for Murray McLauchlan’s iconic song about Toronto: “Down by the Henry Moore” here, although many believe he meant the Henry Moore at City Hall.”)
Tragically, B.C. wildfires destroyed artist Brian Jungen’s studio in August, 2021. The Couch Monster installation was the studio’s final completed piece.
More about Brian Jungen in previous posts on Canadian Art Junkie, here.
His Instagram, here.
Brian Jungen at Catriona Jeffries gallery, here.
The Art Gallery of Ontario page on the Couch Monster, here.
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He is a splendid artist, and this installation is a worthy successor to Two Forms. Thanks for the update.
Such a fantastic sculpture. When you look at it up close, it’s amazing to see how it all comes together so that when you look at if from a distance it’s beautiful. Sad news about his studio and the fires.
That’s a good observation about the close-up vs the distant view. Both are so true when you’re standing in front of the sculpture.
Great article about the Elephant.
You covered it well. I did post pics of the Elephant and the Moore sculpture, but no back ground, just a gluttony of photos, and mention of art medium!
Actually, “Elephant on a Ball” was My #1 post (according to WP) in 2022.
Thank you!
I’m not surprised it was you #1post that year – what an amazing piece of art and the story, too. I had been (have been) meaning to do something on it for quite some time. Thanks.
It’s fabulous! Welcome!
This should put most attempts at up-cycling on notice that they have to, shall we say. up their game?
Besides I’m a fan of Henrt Moore.
Oh how well put! Thank you.