In the busy atrium of Toronto's Simcoe Place, a new artwork quietly stops the flow. Aeon, a large sculpture by David Spriggs, draws the eye with its layered forms. Burnished bronze aluminium sheets, precisely cut, ripple inward, creating a deep, eye-like shape that shifts subtly as you move past. The metal catches the ambient light, giving the piece a shimmering, almost fluid quality.

Spriggs was inspired by the idea of time, and the ancient Greek word “aion,” which means eternity. "I was drawn to the symbolic power of the eye as a structure and form and the foundation of vision," he explains. The eye-like form is central to this concept, serving as both a structural element and a potent symbol of vision and perspective. Spriggs employed layered aluminium sheets, meticulously cut, to create a sense of depth and movement, inviting viewers to explore the interplay of solid and void from various viewpoints.

Aeon plays with the idea of presence and absence, the solid material and the empty space at its core. The slightly off-centre design encourages people to look at it from different angles. Spriggs hopes the artwork offers "a moment of reflection, like encountering something vast and timeless." Instead of telling a specific story, Aeon lets each person find their own meaning. For example, some may see a gateway, and others a representation of time itself.

In a bustling space like Simcoe Place, art becomes a pause in the day. Sebastian Greenall, Senior Vice President, Architecture and Design at Cadillac Fairview (CF), explains that CF wanted “something that combined a moment of drama, immersion, an object to catch the eye and inspire contemplation.” CF has a long history of bringing art into public spaces, with pieces like Michael Snow’s Flight Stop at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre, and Tim Pitsiulak’s beautiful, and enormous, coloured pencil drawing of Beluga whales on display at the TD Centre. CF sees art as an important part of creating vibrant spaces.

As Spriggs points out, public art "can turn a simple space into something people connect with emotionally, intellectually, and physically." In urban environments, it creates moments of stillness, fostering a sense of identity and inviting new perspectives on the familiar.

As people move through Simcoe Place, Aeon offers a chance to think about time and perception, and is a beautiful, thought-provoking sight that adds to the character of the space.

To see more of David Spriggs’ work, visit: https://davidspriggs.art/., this will open in a new tab