Five years in the making, the MTA is finally unveiling a giant, energetic mural in the 59th Street Columbus Circle subway station designed by conceptual artist Sol LeWitt. That the mural was installed post-humously, on what would have been LeWitt’s 82nd birthday, the absence of the artist is actually a part of LeWitt’s process. Like most of his wall-drawings, LeWitt’s specifications constitute the art, and the execution, usually carried out by studio assistants, is the manifestation of his instructions.
The mural consists of 250 porcelain tiles cut and colored to LeWitt’s exact directions. The proposal was created in 2004, during which time LeWitt selected the site and titled the work “Whirls and Twirls (MTA).” The project was included in the $108 million revamping of the Columbus Circle station. Two more circular floor works are planned for installation. We are told they are compass-rose designs in a contrasting light and dark grey color scheme. As the construction subsides passengers will be greeted by a colorfully saturated, vibrant, and playful piece of work by a world-renowned artist and one of conceptual art’s great masters.
The process of art making can sometimes be more fruitful than the end result. Example, "Unbuilt Roads", a show on view at e-flux through May 16th. Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, the exhibit takes the idea of unrealized architectural projects, so often exhibited, and puts it to art. Of the 107 unfinished projects on view are included works by Sylvie Fleury, Jenny Holzer, Robert Rauschenberg, Sol LeWitt, and Christo (pictured). e-flux is located at 41 Essex Street in downtown Manhattan.
Geared to improve systems of public transportation and position the city as an arts capital the Naples Metropolitan Rail System (M.N. Metropolitana de Napoli S.P.A.) has been working on an ambitious plan to realize a new highspeed line from Caserta to Salerno, Italy. Now scheduled for completion in 2011 construction will increase the number of rail stations from 45 to 114, and extend its infrastructure to serve 70% of the population, up from 25%. The program is impressive, not only for its scale, but its dedication to art. Among the international and Italian talents commissioned to design the new stations are Sol Lewitt, Zaha Hadid, Anish Kapoor and Karim Rashid. Courtesy of Luxuryculture.com.
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