Thursday, May 17, 2012

Giant Red Lotus Comes to Civic Center



A giant red "kinetic fabric" lotus on a pedestal appeared in Civic Center Plaza last Friday as part of the Phantoms of Asia exhibit at the Asian Art Museum next door.



Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa has created a 24-foot motorized Breathing Flower, but in truth she didn't need the motor because the installation site, at the exposed end of Civic Center Plaza, is a wild wind tunnel that starts on the Pacific Ocean, tears down Golden Gate Park and whips through the Civic Center.



The lotus has been moving wildly with nature since it was installed in its cyclone location, which is half the fun.



There were already a few tears, as you can see above, after a couple of particularly blustery days this weekend.



It turns out the sculpture arrived with plentiful patch kits so this must not have been the first natural tear...



...and the next day it looked like new.



It's a perfect tourist attraction and a delightful addition to the neighborhood.

2 comments:

tobymarx said...

It's a lovely piece of art, as was the multi-armed Buddha. Although I'll always mourn the passing of the oold Main Library, the new Asian Art Museum has at least done much to beautify our otherwise pitiful Civic Center Plaza.

AphotoAday said...

I like it... Takes my mind off the tortured Sycamore trees in the vicinity.