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Artist Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong has designed an interactive installation on the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York State with LED animations that respond to passers-by.
Called Current, the permanent sculpture is located on the Westchester County side of the Tappan Zee Bridge spanning the Hudson River between Tarrytown and Nyack.
Current is made up of 12 triangular steel arches positioned on a poured concrete foundation. The arches are aligned next to each other and gradually decrease in height.
Each arch is fitted with an iridescent glass fin on its top that refracts sunlight and creates shadows during the day, while built-in LED lights produce a white glow after dark.
“The name was chosen in reference to the ebb and flow of river currents on the Hudson River, as well as the currents of light and the currents of time,” said the artist. Wing-Zi Wong said Dezeen.
The installation includes motion sensors that detect the movements of passers-by, triggering LED light animations that respond to pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.
“In the evening, Current creates a shared spatial experience through light animations that respond to the movements of passers-by,” Wing-Zi Wong explained.
Similar to the chime of a clock, the sculpture also plays a different light animation at the start of each hour of the day.
“The work is a dynamic and interactive sculpture that celebrates the transformation,” said the artist.
Officially named Governor Mario M Cuomo Bridge, the Tappan Zee Bridge replaced an older version of itself in 2017.
Current’s foundation, cladding and mullions securing the glass fins in place are all made of steel salvaged from the old bridge.
Wing-Zi Wong’s process involved studying the site and history of the Hudson River and the ancient Tappan Zee Bridge, after which she developed the facility using 3D drawing software. Rhinoceros.
“Current pays homage to this connection and the legacy of the Tappan Zee Bridge as the main historical connection point spanning the Hudson between the two counties north of New York,” said Wing-Zi Wong.
Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong is a New York-based artist whose work explores the border between art and architecture.
Recent installation designs include a mirrored kaleidoscope podium created by artist Doug Aitken for Saint Laurent’s men’s fashion show last week in Venice, and a sculpture at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed that may be transformed into a race track using an augmented reality application.
Images are courtesy of Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong.
Project credits:
Engineering: SGH
Manufacturing: Elementary metallurgy
Installation: Sultz, NYSTA
