Vancouver-based artist Marie Khouri’s most recent work, “I Love,” comprises three hand-carved, curved forms. Khouri draws inspiration from Henry Moore’s sensuous sculptures and Zaha Hadid’s organic architectural structures while paying homage to the calligraphic nature of the Arabic language.

Born in Egypt and raised in Lebanon, Khouri fled Beirut with her family in the 1970s during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-90). The artist’s reverence for Arabic and her early career as an interpreter in Paris informed her interest in using language to explore new connections in art.

This dynamic and elegant hanging sculpture invites meaningful conversation within the communal spaces it inhabits. Inspired by traditional intaglio printmaking, it celebrates the rich history of mail markings and the Canada Post postage stamp through the use of expanded aluminum mesh. This material mirrors the intricate patterns of printmaking, embossing, and engraving, symbolizing the convergence of past, present, and future technologies.

The sculpture aims to reflect, unite, and celebrate the history of mail and postage stamps while also embodying the rebirth and evolution of this site, YVR26, endearingly named “The Post”. The piece bridges elements of history and innovation, fostering a playful and thoughtful dialogue for the community.