JORDAN SOOK
THINGS I FIND UNIMAGINABLE
Exhibition:
24 January – 3 February, 2023
Location:
55 St Clair Avenue West (https://goo.gl/maps/CWh4Rrsg9HEQF9US7)
Congratulations to Jordan Sook, whose monumental public sculpture, Things I Find Unimaginable, is on view in Toronto as part of the 2023 DesignTO Festival.
According to the artist, Things I Find Unimaginable calls into question conscious (and subconscious) consumer habits. The viewer might think of how discarded clothing actually does the opposite of growing a tree. Others might see it as symbolic of the “footprint” that all the clothing a person might accumulate in their lifetime.
The sculpture is on view during regular business hours next week in the lobby of 55 St. Clair West.
About the Sculpture:
Things I Find Unimaginable, is a 32ft. (9.7m) tall leafless tree. With its trunk and roots fabricated from clothing set for the landfill, Things I Find Unimaginable, calls into question conscious (and subconscious) consumer habits. It serves as a beacon of hope and for the potential in collective adaptation and re-imagination of systems and institutions to accelerate change, ultimately, conserving our natural resources.
Wrapped with over 1000 lbs. of hand- twisted discarded clothing, this cloth exterior simulates the tree’s “bark” and “roots.” When viewed up close, each piece of fabric has its own unique composition, texture and colour. These attributes highlight the individuality and life cycle of each article, opening a conversation surrounding the viewers own consumer habits and contributions to the global waste crisis. The tree being symbolic of life, growth, and sustainability, serves as a reminder of our symbiotic relationship with the Earth and its resources. This prompts us to think on a global scale about the effects of fast fashion on our environment from production, to point of purchase and ultimately disposal.
Things I Find Unimaginable is a symbol of optimism, a display of positive evolution in the relationship between humans and the environment both now and in future generations.
A previous version of this sculpture was presented by Artfully Yours Collective (@artfullyyours.collective) for the Yorkville Murals Festival in September 2022.
BIO
Jordan Sook (@jordansook) is a contemporary mixed media artist who lives and works in Toronto, Canada. His practice focuses on re-contextualizing both public and private spaces as they relate to our environment through the use of familiar and readymade objects.
By engaging with sculpture, installation, and painting, Sook’s distinct style emanates youth and playfulness through colour, texture, scale and form. His work encourages his audience to view the world from a subjective innocence, while exploring the relationship between the modern complexities of humanity, consumerism, as well as socioeconomic and political climates.
His recent works include, “The Irrefutable Truth of Our Existence” (TTC, Toronto, 2022); “Thank You for Keeping Us On Track” (Union Station, Toronto, Nia Centre for the Arts, 2021); “High Street” (Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Lift CO., 2020).