New York Daily Photo Analytics

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Transparent Monument

The Metropolitan Museum rooftop gallery is showcasing the work of one artist, Cai Quo Qiang- we have posted on him before (crocodiles) but he has more than one work exhibited. This piece, Transparent Monument, is giant sheet of glass at the base of which lie a number of exact replicas of dead birds. The implication is that they didn't see the glass, were stopped dead and slid down to the base. They appear to be either starlings or small crows. The birds seem like unfortunate victims of circumstance, killed while going about their business, by the intervention of some inexplicably placed man made material, as so often happens in "real life". [Another piece of his occurs every day at noon, when one of the guards fires a special gun which shoots a cloud of black smoke into the sky, that slowly dissipates at a rate determined by the atmospheric conditions. It gives a very ephemeral feeling to the whole concept of watching whatever happens before you in life.] Even in this current heat wave alternating with thunderstorms we have had lately, the rooftop garden gallery at the Met is a good place to go to step out of the busy, crowded, humid atmosphere in the streets and have your thoughts played with by this artist...

13 comments:

Jazzy said...

Happy 4th of July.

I like the 'The transparent monument' very much.
A few days ago I was talking to my mother and discussing about poor pigeons who loose their lives by not seeing the glass in the classroom with lots of windows where she was working.

Nice entry.

Regards

Kala said...

You know, this is the kind of exhibits that make New York so amazing - the variations in shows and things to see - even without words, the piece above speaks for itself although your comments really points out its relationships to life - fascinating exhibits - wish I was there to attend

Edwin Sumun said...

deadly simple yet effective...message received. thoughts played out very graphically. wonderful post!

AnnJay said...

Happy Independence Day! I enjoy your daily photo blog.

Anonymous said...

Nice piece of art...I like how you described his art...very simple but moving.

Hope you enjoy your holiday!

Lisi said...

that's an interesting piece of art and thank you for showing it...I love the Met, spent whole day there last time ;-)

Bob said...

Original shot of the view

AlexandLisa said...

As usual a very artistic photo from you both. Great shot, I love the scenery in the background.

I photographed two buildings who are inspired by New Yorks lower manhattanbuildings the other day. Can you see any resemblance?

Brian Dubé said...

Thanks all. It would be great to meet any daily photo people for a drink on this roof - if anyone should come to NYC in the summer when it is open. They are only open though a little later on Fridays and Saturdays, til 8pm.
Yes, Alex, checkout out your post, love those old deco style skyscrapers with the bridges in the sky between them...
Lucy

Anonymous said...

what a great pic, the composition is perfect!

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