taryn simon and OMA's 'the pipes' to join MASS MoCA's long-term outdoor artworks

‘the pipes’ — a large scale sculpture created by artist taryn simon in collaboration with OMA‘s shohei shigematsu — is coming to the massachusetts museum of contemporary art (MASS MoCA) this spring. composed of 11 inverted concrete wells, the work was first on view at new york’s park avenue armory in 2016. titled ‘an occupation of loss’, it hosted 30 professional mourners from around the world, who turned the towering structures into an instrument for global mourning. this time around, ‘the pipes’ offers the public a space for reflection, impromptu performance, and stargazing. the work will join MASS MoCA’s long-term outdoor artworks from may 29, 2021.

pre-installation view of taryn simon, the pipes, 2017|2021

speaking about the sculpture back in 2016, shohei shigematsu of OMA said, ‘the design was sonically-motivated, focusing on the performative act of loss rather than its physical manifestation, which has been historically marked by multiple scales – from tombstones to the world trade center memorial. the industrial wells were configured into a readymade ruin that responds to both personal and monumental dimensions.’  see designboom’s previous coverage of ‘an occupation of loss’ here. 

installation view, taryn simon, ‘an occupation of loss’, park avenue armory, new york, 2016

image by naho kubota

taryn simon in collaboration with OMA / shohei shigematsu, rendering of ‘the pipes’, 2017/2021

installation view, taryn simon, ‘an occupation of loss’, park avenue armory, new york, 2016

image by naho kubota

installation view, taryn simon, ‘an occupation of loss’, park avenue armory, new york, 2016

image by naho kubota

project info:

name: the pipes 

artist: taryn simon in collaboration with shohei shigematsu of OMA

location: MASS MoCA, north adams, massachusetts, the US

dates: from may 29, 2021, onwards