Forbes
Forbes article of Grimanesa Amoros light installtion HEDERA
By Ann Binlot
The hundreds of thousands of people who frequent Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s Central Park, will get to experience a little art this summer thanks to BRIC, the leading organizer of free cultural programming in Brooklyn. BRIC tapped Peruvian-born, New York-based light artist Grimanesa Amorós to create a vibrant red light installation in the middle of the park, just a stone’s throw away from the Prospect Park Bandshell, so that those attending its summer concert series can easily take in Amorós sculpture, and even dance beneath it. I spoke to Amorós about the sculpture, titled HEDERA, which involves several aspects of the artist’s life and fuses it together with its environment at Prospect Park.
How did the collaboration with BRIC come about?
I was approached by Elizabeth Ferrer, the curator of the piece and a powerhouse of a woman that I admire.
Do you have a personal connection to Prospect Park?
It is my favorite place to see the cherry blossoms bloom, as they are one of my favorite flowers. I try to visit them every year.
Tell me about Hedera. Why red? What is the concept behind it?
HEDERA, besides loving the sound, means Ivy in Latin. The piece’s overall structure was inspired by the natural beauty and grandeur of the park’s plant life. The nucleus of the piece will have viewers able to see smaller protruding domes, which relate to a plants central bud. I chose the installation’s vibrant red to contrast with the meadow’s lush green — and it’s also my favorite color.
What was the process behind constructing it? How long did it take? How many hours did it take?
Due to the size of the installation, the entire construction process took about three weeks. The calculations given includes the installation of the truss system that the piece is incorporated with. We worked closely with the BRIC’s team to ensure that the installation would be ready for the public by June 5th.
Read the feature article on Forbes website: click here.
