Today my friend Erma and I went to 1501 Yonge street Old Toronto to see the Tunnel of Glam.As advertised in many social media it's a public tunnel covered with reversible sequins of enormous number! How many? JUST 14 Million but off course I didn't go through the hassle of verifying the claim. Who cares about numbers anyway when it's evidently stunning.
So how did we find this 80feet interactive work of art? Mind blowing! Few questions running through my head is how they were pinned to the wall , who conceptualized this idea to begin with and how much did it cost. I understand it's on its second year but surely it had required huge manpower. The result was fabulous if I may say.
It goes without saying that it teaches everyone these:
A. That art is for everyone young and old, boy, girl or lgbt and irrespective of race, social status and religious belief.
B. That the idea of art is pretty subjective.
Because it's reversible one can easily change the design by a swipe of a finger. That being said it remind you of life's impermanence that if you don't put attention on to what's now you'd missed it. It reminds you that what makes anything glamorous isn't really the material of which it's made from but the enormous love that's showered to create a masterpiece that others won't even care to notice.
Yes it can be argued that in the distant future when this pedestrian tunnel is worn out these sequins will be disposed and might end up polluting bodies of water and killing marine life in the process .
This sad fate is possible indeed if we don't recycle and reuse them to another work of art that inspires creativity in us.
Artistic as we are as our forefathers and indebted as we to preserve this only known habitat for us humankind I am sure these sequins won't cause the demise of our aquatic friends.
Climate change is a real threat to us I agree but so is depression. With longer nights and endless partying it's easy to get drown into the pits of loneliness. Canada home to many migrants can be a terrible place for thousands longing for the warmth of their native land so personally I think the city did good in assisting the installation.
This small space allows everyone to express whatever mood he is in and also encourages each and everyone to appreciate the work of another. Talk of coming together this art did just that.
Yes you need to bundle up as the blowing wind is chilly. BUT DONT fret because the laughter you'd hear and the visual stimulation you'd get is worth every frozen tingling sensation you'd feel.