7. Between the Future at Newark Liberty International Airport
Sweeping 350 feet of the arrival hall and concourse level of Newark Liberty International Airport is Layqa Nuna Yawar’s vibrant mural, Between the Future. Created in celebration of the diverse voices and cultures present within Newark NJ, and the larger New York City Metropolitan Area, the mural explores the area’s history and community with an emphasis on how the past can be embraced in order to make way for a brighter future. Nature forms a central component of the installation, featuring native flora and fauna such as roses and violets (the NY and NJ state flowers), the bog turtle (NJ state reptile), and white Egrets (native to the area’s marshland).
Throughout the mural’s production process, Yawar drew upon his indigenous heritage and Kichwa language. He also interviewed and took portraits of Port Authority airport workers and local community members including Dr. Hilda Hidalgo and Mathyias “Laughing Wolf” Ellis. Between the Future depicts a wide range of individuals across time, culture, race, and gender paying specific attention to narratives of perseverance through oppression. In his mural, Yawar challenges viewers to consider which groups of individuals receive recognition in mainstream media, arguing that everyone is remarkable in their own unique way. The mural is presented by the Public Art Fund and will be on permanent display in the airport’s Terminal A.
