Bolshevik

Artist Biography: Vincent Trasov is a painter, video and performance artist. His practice is collaborative, and he has been heavily involved in developing networks in the arts community. A long-time collaborator with fellow artist Michael Morris, the two founded the Image Bank in 1969, which established a mail art network that created exchange and dialogue between artists. Trasov and Morris also co-founded the Western Front artist run centre in Vancouver in 1973. In the 1970s, Trasov adopted the persona of Mr. Peanut, as a means to explore ideas of persona and identity. He has portrayed the famous advertising icon for over three decades, culminating in drawings, performance and video art. Trasov as Mr. Peanut ran for mayor of Vancouver in 1974. His platform was the arts: “P for Performance, E for Elegance, A for Art, N for Nonsense, U for Uniqueness and T for Talent.” Mr. Peanut received 2,685 votes for 3.4% of the vote.