Artists - Part 12

Edmund Haakonson

Edmund Haakonson is a gay artist in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  In high school in rural Alberta in the 1980s, after another gay youth was severely beaten up, he was terrified and remained closeted.

He came out in college at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, a larger city where it was safer to be gay.  The image above was untitled but appears to be a self-portrait.

He paints, but he is best known for sculpture, which he teaches at the University of Alberta.  Above is a terra-cotta relief from 2015-2021.

He seems to have a thing about satyrs and fauns.  Above, a satyr or faun sticking out his tongue.

This piece is called Innocence Never Possessed.  

And this one, called Self-Help, looks even less innocent.  But after all, satyrs are known for being horny (excuse the pun).

But this bronze sculpture may be his finest piece.  Called Slapshotolus, a play on the ancient Discobolus or discus-thrower sculpture, it was created for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, to be displayed at Pride House, a place for gay and lesbian athletes.  It depicts a modern version of the athlete, namely, a hockey player.

Haakonson says, "I've kept the body nude to acknowledge that connection with ancient Greek art. The nude form symbolizes purity, innocence, and truth. I chose the hockey player because, well, it's Canada. Come on ... Even though ancient nude art makes sense to us, and playing hockey makes sense, the combination of the two is funny."