|
annhomanART
|
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|||
![]() |
|
||
|
|
|||
|
In the economic revitalization plan
outlines on the BIG on Bloor website, King noted that there is
no mention of a plan to deal with the impending gentrification
of the area, but rather the acknowledgement of its presence and
possible effects. From this King came to undersand that
there is no practical way to prevent this process of
gentrification from happening. As an artist participating
in the festival (whether commenting or not on this impending
gentrification), by simply participating, King feels he is
contributing to this change. In this, he project simply points
out the process of consumerism on this commercial strip.
Regardless of the businesses' clientele, ones participation in
this 'community' is through the process of consumption. Had
this event taken place in a park, the concept for the festival
would be dramatically altered.
Childhood is often perceived as a time of
innocence, which may be, but this innocence often manifests
itself in insensitivity toward others. At a development stage
where the acceptance of ones peers is important, children often
use their parents' economic situation as an indication of
status. As a child, King remembers many times hearing about
something being 'ghetto' or from 'Bi-way'. If a child doesn't
have the right name brand written on his shoe, he can be
excluded and teased for not being with the trends. Often these
brand name products, much like gentrified neighborhoods, are
result of hype and over-inflated (pun intended) pricing to
provide an opportunity for the projection of wealth.
Balloons are a symbol of childhood fun and
innocence. In reality, once acquired, balloons are basically
functionless, often discarded in the corner or a room or popped
on the ground after returning home. They don't serve much of a
purpose for play or have any other utilitarian function. Much
like childhood, they are used to signify an event that was
temporary and fun. While King’s balloons are a part of
the festival, they are a signifier of those who 'have' and
those who 'have not'. Much like an advertisement for a
bank, children will not see this reading, but adults will.
Commercial businesses often use balloons to
attract people’s attention for promotions such as sales
or grand openings. Contemporary marketing has taken to
integrating products into the lives of its target market by
staging surreal spectacles in the public forum. King’s
child replica will hang from a large number of balloons
floating 50 feet above the balloon stand. This will in part be
contributing to the spectacle of the event, but also providing
a visual narrative and conversation piece for all participants
at the festival to interact with. This will be a way of
promoting his balloon stand so as to sell more balloons. The
floating child could also be taken metaphorically as the result
of excessive consumption, or the potential dangers of
revitalization. By selling his art, King is providing a concept
and a material good at a common price. In North America, dollar
stores provide consumers with products at what is considered
the lowest price possible. The dollar is also the financial
unit upon which global economic trade is based.
|
|
||
|
|
|||
![]() |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|