9. Arch at Washington Square Arch
Image by Ai Weiwei Studio/Frahm & Frahm
Arch at the Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village is a 40-foot-tall structure located within one of the most frequented social and political hubs in New York City. Sitting underneath the arch, the piece is comprised of two united and mirrored silhouettes, which serve as a passageway for visitors.
“The triumphal arch has been a symbol of victory after war since antiquity,” said Ai Weiwei. “The basic form of a fence or cage suggests that it might inhibit movement through the arch, but instead a passageway cuts through this barrier – a door obstructed, through which another door opens.”