Most of these vans should have gone to the knacker’s yard long ago, but their owners, through grim determination, sentiment or economic necessity have kept them truckin’. Never mind the terminal rust, or the unsolicited paint jobs from local graffiti artists, these vehicles are still going strong on the streets of Europe, and Kevin Cyr has a keen eye for spotting them. His series of oil paintings on panels – Right Place, Right Time – are recreations of vans doing the rounds in Berlin, Brussels and Paris, and are a follow-up and counterpoint to his 2012 show In Praise of Rust, which immortalised Big Apple bangers.
On display until 22 March at Jonathan LeVine‘s West 20th Street gallery in New York, the paintings are an affectionate tribute to the long-serving transport. Cyr believes that the vehicles are symbolic of the city in which they live and operate – faithful workhorses that get the job done while the tourists are staring at the historic landmarks.
Kevin Cyr
Jules Romains
oil on panel
16 x 24 inches
Kevin Cyr
Skalitzer
oil on panel
24 x 48 inches
Kevin Cyr
Alexandre Dumas
oil on panel
20 x 30 inches
Kevin Cyr
Julien Lacroix
oil on panel
16 x 24 inches
Kevin Cyr
Michelet
oil on panel
36 x 60 inches
