Ai Weiwei’s Chihuly, also the subject of an exhibition currently on display at the New York Botanical Garden, is a widely exhibited glass sculptor whose wild chandeliers are, well, kind of Cthulhu-like.
The Rose Crystal Tower has a 31-foot-tall steel skeleton. Today, workers have been bejeweling it with crystals of what Chihuly calls Polyvitro, a glass-like plastic material first used in his renowned Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem installation.
In a statement, the 76-year-old artist, who was born in Tacoma, Washington and is currently based in Seattle, said he was excited to have a work on display in New York City, where the “energy, architecture and rich creative history is formidable and it continues to offer infinite inspiration for artists.”
The Marlborough Gallery is planning an exhibition of new Chihuly work next year; the Rose Crystal Tower will stand tall through next October.
The Union Square Triangle previously hosted monumental works such as “Disorder: 9 Uneven Angles,” 25-foot-tall steels beams by Bernar Venet; “My Circle,” a 14-foot-tall steel circle by Beverly Pepper; and “Gran Elefandret,” a 26-foot-tall upside-down elephant by Miquel Barceló.
Here’s what Chihuly’s tower looked like earlier this week.
The sculpture as it was being assembled earlier this week. (Photo: Daniel Maurer)