NEW YORK—The monolith that sat in Madison Square Park for the last week officially premiered as the public art installation named “Echo” on Thursday. The 44-foot-high fiberglass-reinforced plastic sculpture by internationally renowned artist Jaume Plensa is presented by the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s art program, Mad. Sq. Art, through Aug. 14.
“With this work I aim to introduce quietness and serenity in Madison Square Park; to transform the Park further into a place to rest and dream,” said Plensa in a press release.
The sculpture depicts the head and neck of a young girl, modeled after the 9-year-old daughter of a restaurant proprietor near Plensa’s home in Barcelona, Spain. Plensa named the statue after the story of the nymph Echo from Greek mythology. Echo distracted the god Zeus’s wife, Hera, with stories while Zeus cavorted with other nymphs. When Hera found out, she punished Echo by taking away her voice, except for an ability to echo others’ words.
After the premier, the area known as the “Oval Lawn” was opened up for the public to lounge around on the soft grass surrounding the sculpture.
“It is very enchanting, very compelling, and intoxicating. I liked the art here last year, but I like this piece even better. I feel a tremendous amount of humanity about it,” said Susan, a local New Yorker.
“It is subtle, it is interesting. … Her face changes as you walk around it; it’s two-dimensional and becomes three-dimensional. As the light changes, it changes. Even during the half-hour we’ve been here, it’s changed,” remarked a visitor from Texas.
“For everyone in New York who passes by our many treasures without looking up, I dare them not to take notice of this really extraordinary new contribution to our city’s landscape. Mr. Plensa, just know, you’re an honorary New Yorker whether you like it or not,” said Kate Levin, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
“With this work I aim to introduce quietness and serenity in Madison Square Park; to transform the Park further into a place to rest and dream,” said Plensa in a press release.
The sculpture depicts the head and neck of a young girl, modeled after the 9-year-old daughter of a restaurant proprietor near Plensa’s home in Barcelona, Spain. Plensa named the statue after the story of the nymph Echo from Greek mythology. Echo distracted the god Zeus’s wife, Hera, with stories while Zeus cavorted with other nymphs. When Hera found out, she punished Echo by taking away her voice, except for an ability to echo others’ words.
After the premier, the area known as the “Oval Lawn” was opened up for the public to lounge around on the soft grass surrounding the sculpture.
“It is very enchanting, very compelling, and intoxicating. I liked the art here last year, but I like this piece even better. I feel a tremendous amount of humanity about it,” said Susan, a local New Yorker.
“It is subtle, it is interesting. … Her face changes as you walk around it; it’s two-dimensional and becomes three-dimensional. As the light changes, it changes. Even during the half-hour we’ve been here, it’s changed,” remarked a visitor from Texas.
“For everyone in New York who passes by our many treasures without looking up, I dare them not to take notice of this really extraordinary new contribution to our city’s landscape. Mr. Plensa, just know, you’re an honorary New Yorker whether you like it or not,” said Kate Levin, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
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