danh vo situates full-scale statue of liberty segments around NYC

danh vo situates full-scale statue of liberty segments around NYC
(above) danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

vietnamese artist danh vo has spent the last years working on ‘we the people’, a full-scale replica of the statue of liberty, recreated in about 250 individual pieces. vo’s segmented version engages with the same fabrication techniques and copper material as the original lady liberty, however, its intent has never been to be assembled together; instead, the installation has been dispersed to exhibition venues in more than 15 countries, inviting an international audience to experience the world famous icon on a human scale.

currently, the public art fund is presenting ‘we the people’ as two distinct installations at brooklyn bridge park & city hall park in new york from now until december 5th, 2014. comprising nearly a fifth of the total work, the varying portions pierce the urban landscape like a large-scale puzzle, asking observers to reconsider liberty as it exists globally and locally.

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

the pieces exhibited at city hall park are dispersed in small groups amongst the downtown site’s laws and greenery, and range in aesthetic from figurative to abstract, and from ornate to the minimal. situated within the lobby of city hall is the statue’s mammoth ear, while links of the chain found at the feet of the statue are scattered beneath the staircase of the main entrance. the presentation at brooklyn bridge park features three towering sculptures overlooking the water, which have been assembled from 13 individual parts of the statue. together these pieces comprise the draped sleeve of the statue of liberty’s raised right arm.

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
collection françois odermatt, montreal
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
collection françois odermatt, montreal
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

danh vo, we the people (detail), 2011-14
copper
courtesy of the artist and galerie chantal crousel, paris
photo by james ewing, courtesy public art fund, NY

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