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Sculpture Tue Aug 06 2013
Borders, 26 Icelandic Sculptures, to Land in Grant Park
Agora is a series of 106 striking, headless and armless iron figures; this large, sculptural installation, designed by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz, resides at the south end of Grant Park at Roosevelt Road. Beginning this Thursday, another large sculpture series will be close by, in the Solti Garden, located just south of the Art Institute: Borders, by Icelandic artist Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir.
Borders in New York installation; photo by James Ewing.
Borders, composed of 26 life-sized androgynous figures that have recently been shown in New York, Dallas and Seattle, will be positioned here in Chicago. The figures will be arranged in 13 pairs--one in aluminum, the other iron--that seem to be conversing with each other. The static figures, modeled after Thórarinsdóttir's oldest son, encourage visitors to engage with them by crossing the invisible "borders" they create.
"Using human figures makes it possible for people to relate to this work very directly, but at the same time the characteristics of the figures are reserved and anonymous. They don't force themselves on the viewer," said Thórarinsdóttir. "Chicago is one of the world's leading capitals for sculpture, and it has long been a goal of mine to have a piece prominently displayed in the city."
The figures were originally installed in New York City's Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, located near the United Nations headquarters. Borders was created for vibrant, active public spaces that would have frequent gatherings and pedestrian traffic. Thórarinsdóttir chose the Chicago location because of its proximity to the cultural happenings at the Art Institute and Millennium Park. The exhibit is sponsored by Bloomberg and hosted by the Chicago Park District in conjunction with the Grant Park Conservancy.
Borders will be in place at the northwest corner of Jackson Boulevard and South Michigan Avenue until the spring of 2014. For more information on the work, see the artist's website.