Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Sculpture installation, life-like and mirror images

I was walking in the Turtle Bay neighborhood in New York City last week, when I spotted these eerie figures. It turns out that an Icelandic artist has unveiled an art installation of 26 androgynous life-sized figures in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza. The park runs along 47th Street between the United Nations on First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Remember - you can click on the photos to enlarge them.)

"Borders," by internationally acclaimed Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir features 13 figures made of heavy rust-colored cast iron standing or sitting across 13 mirror images made of lightweight silver aluminum that they're seemingly "in silent conversation with." This is why I love that city so much...


- Kneeling, bowing.


- Silver sculpture on a bench.


- All silver sculptures...

- One of these bronze sculptures had a bit of a walkabout. See below. :)


- It looks for all the world like that sculpture came to life and just walked up to these men to listen in on the conversation. And they were so deep in conversation that they didn't notice they were being photographed (or apparently listened to!)

13 comments:

Snaggle Tooth said...

Neat! I like these figure Sculptures all around- What a cool project to do- They do fit right in! You found alot of them.

Fireblossom said...

It DOES look like that last one is listening in!

happygirl said...

I love your perspective on the sculptures. I think if not for your angles they wouldn't have seemed so intimate. Thanks.

Maude Lynn said...

That's kind of freaky!

Louvregirl said...

They are a little bit scary (creepy) to me as they are so androgynous! I like the kneeling ones...Good shots though, Lynn!

TALON said...

lol! That last statue looks like it's taking a break and joining in the convo. So neat! i love art like that - it becomes interactive and compelling. Really neat.

Wendy said...

cool! That last photo is so funny.

I'm pretty sure my 6 year old would end up sleeping on the floor next to my bed for a week after seeing these sculptures around the city!

LL Cool Joe said...

Oh I love these! Now this is my kinda art! So glad you captured them like this for all of us to see.

Riot Kitty said...

Great pictures! Those statues are a bit creepy though. Here, all around town, we have steel cows. It was a public art project (a goofy one.) Not sure if they are androgynous cows.

desk49 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
desk49 said...

They stand quite
Listening to the city
Stop and talk
They seem to say

Heart hard like steel but
Touching ours with warmth
Do they know us better
Then we know ourselves

Quietly they stand
Looking into our eyes
Hoping someday we to
Will understand

Lynn said...

Snaggle -

It was so cold that day that I didn't linger longer than necessary - but I loved that exhibit.

FB -

With the proper look in its eye, too!

happygirl -

Thank you - I don't have any training in photography, so I am pleased to hear that.

Mama Zen -

I know!

lg -

Love those kneeling ones the most and the one that "walked" up to the men. :)

Talon -

I agree. :)

Wendy -

I wonder if kids get creeped out - I think New York kids must be used to everything.

Joe -

I'm glad you like them. :)

RK -

They had those cow sculptures in DC when I was there a few years ago - kind of fun!

Ellis -

Oh - that is a perfect poem to go along with the photos!

Jannie Funster said...

I LOVE those!!

And YOU!!

xoxoxo