Œuvre d'art public

Homage to Parenthood

Toni Latour, Homage to Parenthood, 2010. © Toni Latour
Toni Latour, Homage to Parenthood, 2010. © Toni Latour
Toni Latour, Homage to Parenthood, 2010. © Toni Latour
Toni Latour, Homage to Parenthood, 2010. © Toni Latour
Toni Latour, Homage to Parenthood, 2010. © Toni Latour
Toni Latour, Homage to Parenthood, 2010. © Toni Latour
Location:
Richmond-Brighouse Station, Richmond, BC, Canada
Artwork creator(s): 
Latour, Toni
Text author(s): 
Latour, Toni
Collaborator(s): 
Her father
Installation year: 
2010
Remarks on location: 

Brighouse Station

Description: 

Homage to Parenthood is a six-panel public art installation on display at the Canada Line Brighouse Station. On the panels are 100 clichés, idioms and sayings written in colours that mirror those of the rainbow.

Text of the artwork: 

Life is a bowl of cherries.
Nobody's perfect.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Better late than never.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Don't shoot the messenger.
Always look on the bright side of life.
Patience is a virtue.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Don't cry over spilled milk.
This too shall pass.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Every dog has his day.
It's not the end of the world.
Good things come to those who wait.
Stop and smell the roses.
Do it with a smile on your face and song in your heart.
Turn over a new leaf.
Seize the day.

 

Rise and shine.
What you see is what you get.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Only time will tell.
If you want it done right, do it yourself.
Measure twice, cut one.
The grass is always greener on the other side.
One bad apple spoils the bunch.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
That's the way the cookie crumbles.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
You're one to talk.
It's my way or the highway.
No pain, no gain.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Get your feet wet.
Break a leg.
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
Stand your ground.
Live and learn.

 

Think good thoughts.
Home is where the heart is.
No man is an island.
One day at a time.
Get off your high horse.
Beggars can't be choosers.
What goes around comes around.
You reap what you sow.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Ask and you shall receive.
It's a dog eat dog world.
Better safe than sorry.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Wait for the dust to settle.
No news is good news.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Put your best foot forward.
Take the bull by the horns.
Keep your head above water.
Life goes on.

 

You can do it.
Get with the program.
Don't be a chicken.
Nip it the bud.
Wha'ts good for the goose is good for the gander.
Laughter is the best medicine.
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Roll with the punches.
Every rose has its thorn.
Don't put your foot in your mouth.
Hold out an olive branch.
Take it on the chin.
It could be worse.
Put your money where your mouth is.
Silence is golden.
Waste not, want not.
The third time's a charm.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Count your blessings.
Don't rock the boat.

 

Every cloud has a silver lining.
There are plenty of fish in the sea.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Tomorrow's a new day.
Many hands make light work.
Keep your chin up.
Get on the ball.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
His bark is worse than his bite.
There's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Money doesn't grow on trees.
Cross that bridge when you come to it.
Don't hold your breath.
When it rains, it pours.
Time flies when you're having fun.
All that glitters is not gold.
The best things in life are free.
You can't judge a book by its cover.
That's the bottom line.

Text theme: 
Clichés, idioms
Artwork theme: 

This work explores ideas of language, family upbringing, and the cultural specificity of clichés and idioms. It also exists as an homage to her recently deceased father.

History: 

Part of the 2010 Vancouver Biennale

Event date(s): 
2010
Note(s): 

"I began the project by writing down all the sayings that my dad would use, and then did research on commonly used idioms and clichés from North America, which are incredibly culturally specific. From there, I had tons to choose from and the process really moved into the editing phase. It was a lot like writing a 100-line poem. The phonetic flow of each line was really important, along with the interconnected meaning. There are blocks of text that thematically relate to one another." Toni Latour

 

Matthew Hoekstra (2010). Dad may be gone, but not his words. Richmond Review
(http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/entertainment/95465209.html)

Document(s):