Urinal

John Tory
born Toronto, Ontario, 1954

Sculpture — Stone, concrete, stainless steel, rust
(2022)

A clever subversion of the seminal work “Fountain” by Marcel Duchamp. Water does not flow from this fountain due to neglected maintenance and lack of attention. It is a sculpture which asks the viewer to imagine what it could be, and to ponder why it isn’t. However, the artist’s title also challenges the viewer, much as Toronto challenges the citizen to find ways to make the most out of what we have: the washrooms are frequently locked, and perhaps this fountain can be repurposed for something else.

An image of a broken water fountain beside a city street. The metal catch basin of the fountain is ajar and hanging out of the concrete base at an ugly angle.
A close-up of an art plaque on a background of small stones held together with concrete. The plaque reads: JOHN TORY, born Toronto, Ontario, 1954 - Urinal, 2022, Sculpture — stone, concrete, stainless steel and rust - Gift of the artist, on display a
Next

Temple of Speed