Art in Subway Station, New York City

The "Three Heads, Six Arms" sculpture in San Francisco reminded me of an art show I saw last month in New York's subway 14th Street-8th Avenue station.  In the austere station, there were quite a few whimsical bronze sculptures, big and small, scattered on both sides of the platforms.





From distance, they made the platform like a surreal cartoon movie set. Observing up and close, these figures and objects were quite characteristic and almost real. They were apparently very popular and I was not the only person who snapped pictures.











At the end, I found the credit and the title of this group - Life Underground, by Tom Otterness.  Further research revealed that these are permanent public art and had a common theme of implied criminality mixed with an undercurrent of social anarchy, despite their cuteness.



In spite of the often deceptive small scale of individual piece, the entire project took ten years from commissioning to the final completion of the installation.  Quite a feat.  I truly appreciate efforts to bring art and the masses together.  Unfortunately, my media would not allow me such undertaking.  Am I living in the wrong time and working with the wrong materials?  I had to wonder.  Yet, however I wonder, I will continue.

>> New York City Report, September 2010, Part XVI: Liao Yibai: Real Fake - Mike Weiss Gallery, New York City 
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