This morning was the official launch of NYCxDesign, New York City’s citywide celebration of design that will run until May 24th. The unveiling of London-based artist Anish Kapoor‘s Descension, a whirlpool of water at Brooklyn Bridge Park, marked the event with a press conference featuring Kapoor, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, Nicholas Baume, the Director and Chief Curator of Public Art Fund (the main partner behind the installation), and folks from NYCEDC and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Descension is part of the year-long 40th Anniversary celebration of Public Art Fund.

Kapoor’s interest in the sculptural potential of water led to the creation of this site-specific installation, which measures 26 feet in diameter. The liquid mass converges in the center – creating a mesmerizing, continuous water spiral, funneling into a black hole. The installation, Descension, has traveled the globe, however this is the first time it will be seen in North America. Kapoor had an installation eleven years ago at Rockefeller Center – the Sky Mirror, also supported by Public Art Fund.

The artist, Anish Kapoor, at the opening

Next, check out 12 art installations not to miss in NYC this month.