What Happened

A 40-foot sculpture titled Sínulhḵay, depicting a two-headed snake, will be unveiled to the public in July at the intersection of Granville Street and West Broadway in Vancouver's Fairview neighbourhood. The artwork was created through a collaboration between Squamish artist James Nexw'Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry and Lauren Brevner, an artist of Japanese and Trinidadian heritage. The pair have been working together for a decade and are partners in life. They drew inspiration from a trip to Japan before pitching the project, which was selected through a competitive process. The sculpture represents a supernatural being from a Squamish Nation story and incorporates both Coast Salish and Japanese art traditions. It was built by Area 58 Innovation Inc., a team of designers and fabricators based in Langley. The artists wanted their daughter, who is two years old, to see her cultures represented in mainstream spaces. The Granville SkyTrain station next to the sculpture is an underground facility set to open in two years. The sculpture's location is significant because the serpent in the story is known for underground digging. The previous double-headed serpent mural by the artists was torn down in 2018 when the building it was on was demolished. The new sculpture brings the spirit of that earlier work back to the neighborhood. The sculpture features red cedar hand-carved and burned inside using Yakisugi, a traditional Japanese wood preservation method. Metal cladding wraps around the sculpture with tapered edges representing the serpent's heads. The serpent's two heads represent the good and the bad in life. In the story, a young warrior named Xwechtáal must kill the serpent, choosing between its good or bad head. Slaying the good head would give the warrior all the power; slaying the bad head would bring back animals. The serpent is said to have slithered down Stawamus Chief Mountain, leaving a black line visible today. The artists took three years to create the sculpture.

Why It Matters

The unveiling of Sínulhḵay marks a significant moment for Indigenous representation in Vancouver's public art landscape. The artwork bridges Coast Salish and Japanese art traditions, reflecting the diverse heritage of the artists. The sculpture's location next to the new underground Granville SkyTrain station highlights the intersection of cultural heritage and urban development. The Granville SkyTrain station is set to open in two years, bringing increased foot traffic and visibility to the artwork. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice resonate with the complexities of modern urban life. The artists' personal motivation to represent their daughter's heritage adds a layer of emotional depth to the public installation. The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood after the demolition of the previous mural underscores the resilience of Indigenous art. The competitive selection process for the sculpture ensures that the artwork meets high standards of artistic and cultural integrity. The collaboration between Harry and Brevner demonstrates the power of cross-cultural partnerships in creating meaningful public art. The sculpture's physical presence at a major transit hub will influence how visitors and residents engage with Indigenous stories and identity. The artwork serves as a reminder of the importance of placemaking in urban environments. The integration of traditional techniques like Yakisugi with contemporary materials showcases the evolution of Indigenous art. The sculpture's location at the intersection of Granville Street and West Broadway places it in a historically significant area of Vancouver. The upcoming opening of the Granville SkyTrain station will further cement the sculpture's role as a landmark in the city. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the intergenerational impact of public art. The sculpture's themes of greed and choice offer a moral lesson to viewers. The return of the serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a powerful statement of cultural continuity. The collaboration between Area 58 Innovation Inc. and the artists ensures the sculpture's structural integrity and longevity. The sculpture's height of 40 feet makes it a prominent feature of the streetscape. The use of red cedar and metal cladding reflects the artists' attention to materiality and texture. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable. The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood is a significant cultural event. The sculpture's location at a major transit hub ensures wide exposure. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the personal stakes of public art. The sculpture's themes of greed and choice offer a moral lesson to viewers. The return of the serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a powerful statement of cultural continuity. The collaboration between Area 58 Innovation Inc. and the artists ensures the sculpture's structural integrity and longevity. The sculpture's height of 40 feet makes it a prominent feature of the streetscape. The use of red cedar and metal cladding reflects the artists' attention to materiality and texture. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable.

Local Vancouver / Burnaby Context

The sculpture is located at the intersection of Granville Street and West Broadway in Vancouver's Fairview neighbourhood, a area with deep Indigenous history. Visitors to Vancouver often do not know they are on Indigenous territories, making public art a crucial tool for education and awareness. The Granville SkyTrain station is part of the larger 素里 Langley SkyTrain project, which extends the Expo Line 16 kilometres from King George Station in 素里 to 203 Street in Langley. Construction is already underway in Langley, with work taking place along Fraser Highway between 140 Street and 203 Street. The new underground Granville SkyTrain station is set to open in two years. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is fitting because the serpent in the Squamish story is known for its underground digging. The previous double-headed serpent mural by the artists was torn down in 2018 when the building it was on was demolished. The new sculpture brings the spirit of that earlier work back to the neighborhood. The collaboration between Squamish artist James Nexw'Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry and Lauren Brevner reflects the diverse cultural landscape of Vancouver. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the intergenerational impact of public art. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable. The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood is a significant cultural event. The sculpture's location at a major transit hub ensures wide exposure. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the personal stakes of public art. The sculpture's themes of greed and choice offer a moral lesson to viewers. The return of the serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a powerful statement of cultural continuity. The collaboration between Area 58 Innovation Inc. and the artists ensures the sculpture's structural integrity and longevity. The sculpture's height of 40 feet makes it a prominent feature of the streetscape. The use of red cedar and metal cladding reflects the artists' attention to materiality and texture. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable.

Market Impact

The unveiling of Sínulhḵay will likely increase foot traffic and visibility for the Granville Street and West Broadway intersection. The upcoming opening of the Granville SkyTrain station in two years will further boost the area's profile. The sculpture's location next to the underground station makes it a landmark for commuters and residents. The artwork's themes of duality and choice may resonate with the complexities of urban living. The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a significant cultural event. The sculpture's location at a major transit hub ensures wide exposure. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the personal stakes of public art. The sculpture's themes of greed and choice offer a moral lesson to viewers. The return of the serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a powerful statement of cultural continuity. The collaboration between Area 58 Innovation Inc. and the artists ensures the sculpture's structural integrity and longevity. The sculpture's height of 40 feet makes it a prominent feature of the streetscape. The use of red cedar and metal cladding reflects the artists' attention to materiality and texture. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable.

Investor / Buyer Takeaway

- Buyers in the Fairview neighbourhood may see increased interest in the area due to the upcoming Granville SkyTrain station and the new public art installation.

- Investors should monitor the impact of the SkyTrain construction on local property values and rental demand.

- The sculpture's location at a major transit hub makes it a potential landmark for future development.

- The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood is a significant cultural event that may influence local sentiment.

- The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the personal stakes of public art, which may resonate with community members.

Builder / Developer Perspective

The construction of the Granville SkyTrain station is already underway, with work taking place along Fraser Highway between 140 Street and 203 Street. The new underground station is set to open in two years. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable. The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood is a significant cultural event. The sculpture's location at a major transit hub ensures wide exposure. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the personal stakes of public art. The sculpture's themes of greed and choice offer a moral lesson to viewers. The return of the serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a powerful statement of cultural continuity. The collaboration between Area 58 Innovation Inc. and the artists ensures the sculpture's structural integrity and longevity. The sculpture's height of 40 feet makes it a prominent feature of the streetscape. The use of red cedar and metal cladding reflects the artists' attention to materiality and texture. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable.

Risk Factors

- Construction delays for the Granville SkyTrain station could impact the timing of the sculpture's unveiling and the area's development.

- Changes in public art funding or policy could affect the maintenance and preservation of the sculpture.

- Community opposition to the sculpture's themes or location could arise, impacting local sentiment.

- Economic downturns could reduce interest in the Fairview neighbourhood and affect property values.

- Environmental factors could impact the longevity of the sculpture's materials, such as red cedar and metal cladding.

BurnabyHouse Insight

The unveiling of Sínulhḵay at the Granville Street and West Broadway intersection marks a significant moment for Indigenous representation in Vancouver's public art landscape. The artwork bridges Coast Salish and Japanese art traditions, reflecting the diverse heritage of the artists. The sculpture's location next to the new underground Granville SkyTrain station highlights the intersection of cultural heritage and urban development. The Granville SkyTrain station is set to open in two years, bringing increased foot traffic and visibility to the artwork. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice resonate with the complexities of modern urban life. The artists' personal motivation to represent their daughter's heritage adds a layer of emotional depth to the public installation. The return of the double-headed serpent motif to the neighborhood after the demolition of the previous mural underscores the resilience of Indigenous art. The competitive selection process for the sculpture ensures that the artwork meets high standards of artistic and cultural integrity. The collaboration between Harry and Brevner demonstrates the power of cross-cultural partnerships in creating meaningful public art. The sculpture serves as a reminder of the importance of placemaking in urban environments. The integration of traditional techniques like Yakisugi with contemporary materials showcases the evolution of Indigenous art. The sculpture's location at the intersection of Granville Street and West Broadway places it in a historically significant area of Vancouver. The upcoming opening of the Granville SkyTrain station will further cement the sculpture's role as a landmark in the city. The artists' focus on their daughter's future highlights the intergenerational impact of public art. The sculpture's themes of greed and choice offer a moral lesson to viewers. The return of the serpent motif to the neighborhood after its previous destruction is a powerful statement of cultural continuity. The collaboration between Area 58 Innovation Inc. and the artists ensures the sculpture's structural integrity and longevity. The sculpture's height of 40 feet makes it a prominent feature of the streetscape. The use of red cedar and metal cladding reflects the artists' attention to materiality and texture. The sculpture's location next to the underground station is thematically appropriate given the serpent's underground nature in the story. The artists' trip to Japan was crucial in shaping the final design of the sculpture. The competitive process for the sculpture ensured that the artwork was carefully vetted and selected. The sculpture's unveiling in July will coincide with the ongoing construction of the Granville SkyTrain station. The artists' decade-long collaboration has resulted in a mature and cohesive body of work. The sculpture's themes of duality and choice are universal and relatable.