mike + doug starn: big bambu on the met's rooftop in new york

invited by the metropolitan museum of art to create a site-specific installation for the iris and b. gerald cantor roof garden, the twin brothers mike and doug starn (born in new jersey in 1961) present their work, ‘big bambú: you can’t, you don’t, and you won’t stop’.

all images © doug and mike starn

the monumental bamboo structure, ultimately measuring 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 50 feet high, takes the form of a cresting wave that bridges the realms of sculpture, architecture, and performance. ‘big bambú’ is a growing and changing installation,―a vast network of 5,000 interlocking 30- and 40-foot-long fresh-cut bamboo poles, lashed together with 50 miles of nylon rope. it will continue to be constructed throughout the duration of the exhibition. the first phase of the structure―measuring about 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 30 feet high―was completed by opening day, april 27.

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010

visitors witness the continuing creation and evolving incarnations of ‘big bambú’ as it is constructed throughout the spring, summer, and fall by artists and a team of rock climbers. they will be continuing to build up the eastern portion of the sculpture to an elevation of 50 feet. by summer, the western portion of the sculpture will be about 40 feet high. an internal footpath artery system grows along with the structure, facilitating its progress. the evolving state of the work is being documented by the artists in photographs and videos. set against central park and its urban backdrop, ‘big bambú’ suggests the complexity and energy of an ever-changing living organism. it is the thirteenth-consecutive single-artist installation on the roof garden. for other large bamboo installations by the starn brothers, see here.

video documenting the construction progress

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010

detail of bamboo network

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010

‘big bambú’ installation view, march 2010