Name/Title
Escape to ParadiseEntry/Object ID
2015.12.01Description
Elspeth Pratt (b. 1953) is a Canadian contemporary artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her practices are based on an examination of architecture, space, and consumer culture.
Pratt’s use of common materials comments on the permanence of architecture and the medium of sculpture, which are traditionally associated with durable and long-lasting materials. It has also been compared to the Arte Povera movement of the 1960s which satirically looked at the decline in industry and craft in Italy.
Using countertop laminate (called Spa by the manufacturer) to mimic the effect of light on the surface of water and curved angles reminiscent of a kidney-shaped swimming pool or a sheltered tropical cove, Escape to Paradise (2014) recreates the aesthetics of luxury relaxation out of cheap mass-produced materials.
Pratt is an Associate Professor in the School of Contemporary Arts and Simon Fraser University. She earned her BFA from the University of Manitoba in 1981 and her MFA from the University of British Columbia in 1974. Her art is housed in collections across Canada, most notably the Glenbow Museum, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Vancouver Art Gallery.Dimensions
Height
139.7 cmWidth
106.4 cmDepth
15 cm