As part of their series of "Panorama" exhibits being presented this year, Friends Of The High Line have announced that they will host Olafur Eliasson's installation, "The Collectivity Project" from May 29th until September 30th this year on the High Line at West 30th Street. The installation, which has previously traveled to Tirana, Oslo, and Copenhagen, features an interactive imaginary cityscape made of over two tons of white LEGO bricks, with visitors invited to design, build and rebuild new structures as they see fit.
In a twist to the installation's usual presentation, High Line Art has invited high-profile architects who are working in the vicinity of the High Line to contribute one "visionary" LEGO design for the installation's opening, with BIG, David M. Schwarz Architects, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, James Corner Field Operations, OMA New York, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Selldorf Architects, SHoP, and Steven Holl Architects all contributing one building which the public will then be able to adapt, extend or work around.
The installation by Studio Olafur Eliasson is intended to cross the boundary between the sometimes-impenetrable world of city planning and the everyday life of the city. In the shadow of some of New York's most rapid development, "The Collectivity Project" will challenge the public to consider issues of urbanization in an inherently democratic and intuitive manner." Part utopian vision of our future, part commentary on the recent developments in our cities, the project will generate a space for conversation and exchange among our communities," said Cecilia Alemani, the Donald R. Mullen, Jr. Director & Chief Curator of High Line Art.
Throughout the installation's four month display, Friends of the High Line will also partner with local non-profit organizations to host weekly educational activities for people of a variety of age groups, further promoting the work's educational potential in the fields of urbanism and architecture.
"The Collectivity Project" will be on display May 29th - September 30th from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm daily, on the High Line at West 30th Street in New York. For more information, visit High Line Art's website.
