New York is not just reputed to be a town where favors all creators and artists. The streets are crowded with all sorts of installations, however, many of them are set for a short time. Past the other sculptures of the people of new York are almost every day without even wondering what kind of sculpture they hide.
«Prometheus»
Where to find: Rockefeller Center
This gilded bronze sculpture, real decoration of Rockefeller Center, known to all. American sculptor Paul Manship immortalized Prometheus, the legendary Greek mythological figure who was not afraid to go against the will of the gods and gave humanity fire. For his action, Prometheus was severely punished by Zeus. The king of gods ordered to chain him to a rock, and a huge eagle every day to peck his liver (wounds of Prometheus was delayed after every execution, so the torture of the pain had to last forever). Thanks to the heroism of Prometheus became a symbol of Enlightenment and civilization. This is the statue of Prometheus descending from heaven, surrounded by the signs of the zodiac. Those who believe in conspiracy theories and think that Rockefeller was the head of a secret societythat controls the world, they say that the legend of Prometheus is consonant with the biblical story of the Lucifer. Angel, in the same way as the ancient character, was thrown down from heaven because he went against God and gave the people light. According to this theory, the statue of Prometheus, as well as other characters located around the 19-story building, suggests that Rockefeller Center was built as a temple of Lucifer.
«Gay liberation» by George Segal
source: flickr
Where to find: Christopher Street, West Village
Ghostly human figures look very mysterious. The composition was created in a recognizable style of George Segal: white plaster sculptures depict two gay couples, both male and female. People in couples relate to each other, and it seems that between them is a very personal conversation. The installation established near Stonewall Innthat Segal considered the birthplace of the movement of fighters for the rights of gays. It was commissioned in 1979 by Peter Putnam, a patron of the arts.
«Lunar bird» (Oiseau lunaire) Joan Miro
source: theartstory
Where to find: Solow Building, W 58th St between Fifth and Sixth Ave
This monumental statue was created by famous Catalan artist in the genre of surrealism in 1966. It is one of enlarged copies of the original project of the 1940s, the years in which the artist moved away from the study of natural forms and went to the picture fantasies. And despite the fact that the «moon bird» in form resembles a dinosaur, his inspiration to create the Miro drew in the bird Kingdom, wanting to create something that symbolizes thought as a connection to the universe.
«Unisphere»
source: wikimedia
Where to find: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens
This sculpture is one of only two surviving structures from the time of the world fair in new York 1964-1965 years. Shining «Unisphere» symbolized the optimism surrounding the Space era and the unity of the world, necessary for space exploration. A special irony is that Donald trump, who opposes globalism, ordered reduced copy of the sculpture, in fact, dedicated to the ideas of globalism, to put it in front of the building Trump International Hotel and Tower near Columbus Circle.
«Good conquers evil»
source: flickr
Where to find: U. N. Building
The inspiration for this sculpture Zurab Tsereteli took in the story of St. Georgedefeating the serpent. The Soviet Union presented this sculpture to the United Nations in 1990 in honor of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of an international organization. «Good overcomes evil» is a symbol of nuclear disarmament: to create a dragon sculptor used the elements of nuclear missiles: the Soviet «pioneer» and the American Pershing. Both guns were removed from the arsenals of the two superpowers in 1987 under the Treaty on elimination of medium-range missiles.
