Back in May 2006 we discovered Olafur Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist whose Umschreibung (Rewriting) was attracting the masses to an otherwise dreary courtyard in Munich. Eliasson has a modest resume, which includes Eye See You (commissioned for Louis Vuitton), The Weather Project and Your Black Horizon. Eliasson’s mastery of the space-light medium and strict attention to environmental detail have made his installations breathtaking experiences for audiences and critics alike.
This summer, Olafur Eliasson will install a series of waterfalls in New York City’s East River. The four illuminated waterfalls will range from 90 to 120 feet in height and be supported by scaffolding to give the appearance of a freestanding column of water. Two of the four locations are near Governors Island and the Brooklyn Bridge, which are already popular destinations for tourists. Estimates for this massive project indicate that it could cost taxpayers $11 million. This may seem like a rather steep price for aquatic art, but if it’s anything like Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s ‘The Gates’, a $1.5 million Central Park installation that generated $254 million, it’ll be worth every penny.
The NYC Waterfalls will be on display from mid-July to mid-October, and will be illuminated after sunset.