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Couch Monster: Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill

Creator Brian Jungen (Canadian, born 1970)

Date2022

Mediumbronze, stainless steel

DimensionsOverall: 378.5 × 332.7 × 557.5 cm (149 × 131 × 219 1/2 in.)
8890 lb. (4032.5 kg)

Credit LineCommission, with funds from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter program, The Renette and David Berman Family Foundation, Charles Brindamour & Josée Letarte, Bob Dorrance & Gail Drummond, Angela & David Feldman, Hal Jackman Foundation, Phil Lind & Ellen Roland, T. R. Meighen Family Foundation, Partners in Art, Paul & Jan Sabourin, an anonymous donor, and with funds by exchange from Morey and Jennifer Chaplick, 2022

Category

Sculptures
outdoor sculpture

Object number2022/1

ProvenanceCouch Monster: Saaje aha hee chil, 2022 bronze Collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario 2022/1 To create the prototype for this monumental bronze sculpture, Jungen cut up and reconfigured several leather couches. He was inspired by the story of Jumbo, a captive circus elephant who was killed by a train in St. Thomas, Ontario in 1885. The artist calls this creature a “couch monster” because capturing and training an elephant for the circus involves breaking the animal’s will and spirit. No longer an elephant, it becomes a monster created by humans for their own entertainment. The Dane-zaa subtitle of the work, “saaje aha hee chil,” which translates to “my heart is torn apart,” reflects the sadness and cruelty of keeping living beings in captivity. The AGO gratefully acknowledges the following funders for their exemplary support in bringing this commission to life / Le MBAO tient à remercier les donateurs suivants pour leur soutien exemplaire dans la réalisation de cette commande: The Renette and David Berman Family Foundation Charles Brindamour & Josée Letarte Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter program Bob Dorrance & Gail Drummond Angela & David Feldman Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada Hal Jackman Foundation Phil Lind & Ellen Roland T. R. Meighen Family Foundation Partners in Art Paul & Jan Sabourin Anonymous

LocationNot currently on display

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