Rewilding (Spring & Autumn)
Rewilding (Spring & Autumn)
By Sylvan Hamburger
Amidst the upheaval of real estate, Rewilding (Autumn & Spring) considers the displacement and movement of the ubiquitous lion finials that guard the gates of many Vancouver Special homes. As the often-disparaged—yet increasingly nostalgic—Vancouver Special is replaced by condominiums and luxury houses, Sylvan Hamburger has endeavored to imagine new habitats for its discarded guardians. Spring detail is shown.
Over three years, Sylvan had worked with demolition crews to salvage the concrete finials from development sites throughout his childhood neighborhood of East Vancouver. Each season, he paints and places the sculptures in forgotten and overgrown locations throughout his community. Now, in conjunction with the 2026 Capture Festival, Sylvan looks to present documentation of the salvaged guardians, Autumn and Spring, at the entrance to the Aberdeen Station. Mimicking their original positions at the gates of former homes, the reimagined lions will once again stand guard as local residents and visitors move throughout the city.
Sylvan Hamburger is a visual artist working across corresponding acts of public intervention and personal recollection. He often employs printmaking, textiles, architecture and colour to reimagine experiences of place and self within changing contemporary landscapes.
