John Tory
born Toronto, Ontario, 1954

Performance
(2022)

This intermittent performance weaves together and juxtaposes three of the artist’s favourite themes — signage, the police, and bureaucratic power structures. The sign clearly forbids cars from standing at this location, yet viewers will frequently find a police car parked directly beneath the sign. On its face, this may appear to be a conflict. However, keen-eyed observers will note the markings of the Ontario Provincial Police, and understand a deeper meaning. Throughout his artistic career, the provincial government has been an important patron for the artist. Where provincial power and municipal power could be in conflict, we instead see harmony. Inside his masterpiece, this performance declares that police are lovingly protected, even from the inconvenience of walking a few steps from the adjacent parking lot. And together, the artist and his patrons work in partnership to realize the austerity masterpiece.