Arvinder Gill has placed his love on permanent lockdown for all of perpetuity.
And in doing so, the 29-year-old and his bride-to-be have set a Vancouver first.
Gill and his fiancé, Sukhdeep Uppal, became the first couple to seal the deal with an engraved padlock at the newly completed love locks sculpture in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Gill proposed on Sept. 5, and the locks were attached — along with an unveiling of the new public art piece — two days later.
“He did really good — I think he amazed everyone,” Uppal told the Courier late last week. “It was a little unreal actually because we didn’t expect it to go so viral. We’ve both been getting tons of messages from friends and family who are so excited for us that we did something that makes history.”
Love locks are padlocks that couples traditionally lock to a bridge, gate, or other public location to show their love. Names or initials are typically inscribed on the padlock and the key is thrown away to symbolize an unbreakable bond. In Vancouver’s case, the keys can be deposited into a box on site and they’ll eventually be recycled or melted down to become part of another sculpture.
The Surrey-based couple have known each other for six years and have been dating since 2014. Marriage had been discussed in the past, but the specifics were up in the air.
Gill recently asked Uppal’s parents for their daughter’s hand and the covert operation was in motion. He then approached the Vancouver Park Board to ask about the status of the city’s love locks statue, which was approved in May.
The timing of the statue’s completion aligned perfectly with Gill’s next move.
“I knew the proposal was coming at some point,” Uppal said. “We had talked about getting married but I didn’t know anything about when the proposal was coming or where it was going to take place. I had no idea that he had planned this whole thing. It ended up being perfect.”
Created by Vancouver artist Bruce Voyce, the sculpture is entitled “Love in the Rain.” The $50,000 piece is located at the highest point in Vancouver above sea level — 152 metres — and its stainless steel structure is designed to both withstand the elements and accommodate thousands of locks.
“It was lovely,” Vancouver Park Board chair Sarah Kirby-Young said of last week’s events. “I think whenever you see a rendering of a piece of art on paper it doesn’t compare to when you have a chance to see it in person. [The sculptures] don’t have an identifiable gender or faces because it’s meant to signify that love transcends all boundaries.”
As for the couple’s next step, marriage is likely in the cards for some time in April 2017. Specifics around the honeymoon are also up for debate, although Bali seems to be in order.
“He has always been there for me,” Uppal said. “He’s very giving and thoughtful and he puts 110 per cent into anything he does. That’s what does it for me.”
@JohnKurucz
