‘Trans Am Rapture’ public artwork receives new Vancouver location

Vancouverites will be able to see the Trans Am Rapture (formerly known as the Trans Am Totem) again soon.

The City of Vancouver confirmed that the artwork, which depicts multiple cars stacked onto each other, all balanced by a cut tree trunk, will be installed at the foot of the Granville Bridge between 4th and 5th avenues after being taken down in 2021.

The piece was originally created by artists Marcus Bowcott and Helene Aspinall for the Vancouver Biennale 2019.

After the art event, it was donated to the City of Vancouver, which committed itself to “restore it for longer-term display.”

Between 2019 and 2021, it was exhibited at False Creek.

However, “the artwork was not designed or fabricated for longevity” and had to be taken down due to bird infestation and its impact on non-durable painted finishes.”

In an email to 1130 NewsRadio, the city assures that the individual elements of the sculpture have been decontaminated and cleaned.

When the city decided to take down the sculpture, it was originally aiming to reinstall the work by summer 2022.

After almost three years and ten months, the city has finally decided on a new location.

It says both artists were closely consulted throughout the maintenance and relocation process and the sculpture could not be re-erected at its previous location due to “reconfiguration of the boulevard.”

In the original city memo on relocation, city staff said they were looking for a site where the “piece can be displayed for at least 10 years.”

The city says the installation will be completed in late summer this year.