Christian Jankowski
Living Sculptures
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, 60th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York
November 24, 2008 - April 2009

Christian Jankowski’s Living Sculptures are the latest edition of the Public Art Fund commissions for the 60th Street entrance to Central Park. The project consists of three life-size bronze sculptures fashioned after the popular street performers who dress up as an historical or imaginary character, and stand mostly motionless atop a pedestal. Jankowski elected to immortalize three recurring figures that he observed in Barcelona: El Che, Caesar, and Dalí’s “Anthropomorphic Cabinet Woman.” By creating a statue of individuals who function and look like statues, Jankowski seeks to alter street conduct—rather than swiftly moving past outdoor sculptures, passersby are called upon to stop and closely consider what they are looking at, assess their relation to it and physically react.

Image: Christian Jankowski, Living Sculptures: Dali Woman. Courtesy of Art Public Fund. Photographer: Seong Kwon