elmgreen & dragset inverts cityscape within new york's moynihan train hall

on january 1, 2021, the SOM-designed moynihan train hall opened in new york, expanding the city’s pennsylvania station complex with a new 486,000-square-foot (45,150 sqm) hub. as part of the project, artist duo elmgreen & dragset were commissioned by empire state development in partnership with public art fund to realize a permanent site-specific installation.

the hive, 2020 | stainless steel, aluminum, polycarbonate, LED lights, and lacquer
commissioned by empire state development in partnership with public art fund for moynihan train hall 
all images by nicholas knight, courtesy empire state development and public art fund, NY

on view on the 31st street midblock entryway ceiling, ‘the hive’ by elmgreen & dragset appears as a fantastical inverted cityscape that is inspired by iconic buildings in new york and other cities around the world. the title of the work suggests a link between natural and human-made structures, like the complex and evolving architecture of a hive. they’ve also described the ceiling-mounted buildings as being like luminous stalactites that pay tribute to the cities we live in while reminding us of our cave-dweller origins.

appearing both monumental and weightless, the project comprises 91 buildings that weigh more than 30,000 lbs (13,608 kg). the 72,000 LEDs located within the up to nine-foot-tall (2.75 m) model buildings illuminate the 315t street entrance hall from day to night, reflecting the energy of new york city. as visitors pause on entering the train hall, the hive seeks to celebrate the new perspectives and interconnectedness that cities and travel provide.

two further commissions have been realized by artists stan douglas and kehinde wiley. ‘each one dazzles with its sheer beauty, epic scale, and technical mastery,’ says nicholas baume, director & chief curator of public art fund — who commisioned the works in partnership with empire state development. ‘collectively, they also remind us that great art comes from great ideas. each artist has thought deeply about the history, context, significance, and future of this newly transformed place, creating brilliantly innovative works of art that allow us to see ourselves — past, present, and future — in a truly civic space.’ see designboom’s previous coverage of the moynihan train hall here.