Ai Weiwei’s citywide public art project Good Fences Make Good Neighbors will be officially unveiled on October 12, marking the beginning of its four month stay of installation throughout city. But the complexity and vast scope of the project means that most of it—from major sculptural installations in Washington Square and Central parks to smaller installations at some bus shelters to lamppost banners—are already in place.
Taken together, the installations address growing hostility towards immigrants, the rise of nationalism throughout the world, and the growing refugee crisis. The project is installed on both public and private sites, as well as on bus shelters in Downtown Brooklyn, Harlem, and The Bronx. It will also appear as documentary images and portraits on lampposts, LinkNYC kiosks, and newsstands throughout the five boroughs.
“New York City's immigrant communities have had to tap into deep wells of resilience to overcome obstacles and fight for place and belonging,” Bitta Mostofi, the acting commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, said in a statement addressing the project. “These works will stop New Yorkers in their paths and invite reflection on the barriers that divide us.” It’s about time.
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