A quick look at the weather forecast yesterday morning and you would have been able to prepare yourself for a wet Tuesday. But did you imagine you might have come across an up-ended swimming pool casually standing around Rockefeller Plaza?
It came as a surprise to a lot of New Yorkers when the art installation – called Van Gogh’s Ear – was officially unveiled yesterday (Tuesday, April 12th), and not an entirely pleasant one for some…
GET THAT CRAP OUTTA THERE! Photos: Rockefeller Center's New Sideways Swimming Pool Installation Is Now Open https://t.co/LH7a5LTcol
— Fr. Steve Tyminski (@NYCpadre) April 13, 2016
Spectacular new upright swimming pool sculpture presented at Rockefeller Center https://t.co/9wy7cQyfEX
— Tsvetelina Kukova (@tzvetelyna) April 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/reneemc/status/720025031120695296
NY will always surprise you; is this #VanGoghsEar or a garden pool? At Rockefeller Plaza;,@NLinNY pic.twitter.com/57ZQoruRmT
— Rob de Vos (@RobGdeVos) April 12, 2016
On view today. Having fun at #VanGoghsEar – @rockcenternyc @PublicArtFund @ElmgreenDragset https://t.co/2gAwFndHuQ pic.twitter.com/7MCBeK80jY
— GothamToGo (@afinelyne) April 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/emilygracenyc/status/719905664567521280
Wtf is this pool "art" outside Rockefeller? #30rock #snl #jimmyfallon #cruzthomas #horatiosanz… https://t.co/TJrENQokOl
— Michael Schnick (@schnickums) April 10, 2016
What is this giant pool doing in Rockefeller Center? Need clarification. 😜 Only in #NYC https://t.co/UMbhHeIVa7
— Aimee ∞❤️xo (@Aimeel618) April 7, 2016
Van Gogh’s Ear was created by Scandinavian artists Elmgreen and Dragset. The idea was to put something that felt “out of place” in this busy part of the city.
Ingar Dragset told Gothamist: “That’s a place where the art meets many people who don’t seek the art experience. You can make more of a surprising encounter and it’s more challenging, as well, for artists.”
The installation will be on view until June 3rd.
Featured cover image: Gothamist