Rat Race

Artist

Ren Burke

Year

2017

Location

3050 S College Ave

Description

"Rat Race: noun, informal. Any exhausting, usually competitive activity or routine spent trying to get ahead, especially in urban life, with little time left for leisure, contemplation, etc."
This drawing shows a pack of multi-colored/patterned rats racing around a track, while mice are shown cheering them on from the rail. Sharp-eyed pedestrians might also be able to find a cat waiting at the center of the racetrack who is hiding in plain sight for the race's eventual winner.
The design takes its inspiration from our society's focus of constantly being “on the go,” as well as the cabinet's location next to the busy traffic of College Avenue. My hope is that the viewer would be able to find the humor (and possibly futility) in such a hectic lifestyle.

Photos