Artist: Austin + Mergold

Folly: SuralArk

This sculpture represented the form of an overturn ship and suburban house. It was made of lumber and clad in vinyl siding which is a material used in a lot of homes in Queens. This sculpture is the first one in the park, which you’d think everyone would notice first, but my group and I completely passed it. During the day the sun beamed into it and glowed it up. For a sculpture that consisted of such dull and dark colors it made me think of life. Although this sculpture was an upside down boat, it reminded me of when you feel like your life is turning upside down and you feel that it is the end of the world  there is always a way to find a positive side in every dull moment even when it may seem like your darkest days ever.

Artist: Zilvinas Kempians

Scarecrow

This sculpture captures the sound and speed of the weather as it changes day by day. The kinetic pathway of 200 stainless steel ribbon echoes throughout the entire park from the East River. This sculpture, like the Folly: Sural, reminded me of life. It also reminded me of when you have something steady in your life, like a friendship or relationship, and there may be an obstacle that comes towards your relationship and you may feel that your relationship is hanging like a string the way the ribbon is; and sometimes you are able to face the obstacle and sometimes you’re not and you may think that it could end something so great in your life, but at the end of the day you are able to go against any obstacle that comes your way and stand strong the way the ribbon does every time the wind blows against it from the East River.

Artist: Meschac Gaba

Citoyen Du Monde

To me, this sculpture represented all the cultures that come together to make Socrates Sculpture Park what it is. I think the piece is beautiful because you notice it before you even come into the park and it shows what the artist was trying to represent was all different types of cultures meeting at a point in the middle. We all may be different in many different types of ways but there comes a time where we can all come together united into one. I think this is the perfect sculpture to represent the entire park because the artists that created the four sculptures in the park are all from different countries but showing their working here together.

Artist: Pawel Althamer

Queen Mother of Reality

The Queen Mother of Reality represents powerful women. When you step into what I suppose is the sculpture’s stomach, there is a section on the side showing different powerful women, such as Michelle Obama. There was also an area where visitors wrote on slips of paper things that they would like to change in the world. The majority of messages came from girls. I think this sculpture was my favorite because it represents a strong woman on the inside, but from the outside it looks almost as if the woman is sad and exhausted laying on her side. It also made me thing that sometimes the people who looked the saddest are the strongest because they continue to lead their lives.