Ever wondered what it would feel like to scale the side of a building like Spider-Man? Visitors to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, just across the Hudson River from Manhatttan, can get an idea at a new art exhibit by Argentine conceptual artist Leandro Erlich. Now through the summer, visitors can interact with Erlich’s installation, The Building, part of his internationally acclaimed Bâtiment series which has arrived in the New York area for the first time. With the help of a giant mirror and a trick of the eye, Erlich’s art makes it seem like you are hanging off the side of a New York City brownstone.
Erlich’s work inspires “spect-actors” to defy gravity by crawling, walking, sitting on, and pretending to hang off a large-scale building model that is on the ground. A giant mirror floating above the model at just the right angle creates the illusion that the scene below is actually taking place right-side up.
Erlich’s massive-scale interactive art pieces have entertained participants across the globe from Paris, London, Buenos Aires, Donetsk, and the Echigo-Tsumari region of Japan. At each stop, the art created is reflective of the architectural style of that location. In this iteration, Erlich’s work represents a New York City brick apartment building and storefront.
This installation can be viewed and experienced in the entrance hall of the Center. Erlich’s installation is part of an arts program celebrating the 30th anniversary of the museum. The program will also include the debut of Brooklyn-based artist Dustin Yellin’s The Politics of Eternity. Check out more fun photos of The Building in the gallery below!
Next, check out 10 Secrets of Liberty State Park and See Leandro Erlich’s Previous Bâtiment at Centquatre, in Paris
