Let there be “Light!”
“Field of Light at Freedom Plaza,” a spectacular light art installation by British-Australian artist Bruce Munro, opened Wednesday night in Midtown Manhattan, illuminating more than six acres from 38th to 41st Streets between 1st Avenue and the East River.
The free, immersive outdoor walk-through exhibit below the United Nations will be on display for one year and is described as an “ethereal painted landscape framed by the city’s iconic skyline.”
The display features an array of 18,750 lowlight and fiber-optic stemmed spheres that illuminate with a slow, subtle change of hue.
Munro is an internationally acclaimed artist whose work has been displayed in New York’s Guggenheim Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, among others. He couldn’t think of a better location near the United Nations because “we all need a bit of light.”
“It is my hope that the installation will bring those who visit the installation much hope and joy,” Munro said. “Ultimately, if you leave Freedom Plaza with a warm heart and a smile on your face, the installation will have worked its magic.”
The luminous wonderland was made possible with the generosity of the Soloviev Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the Soloviev Group, which has had a long history of promoting the arts and artists.
Stefan Soloviev, principal of the Soloviev Foundation and chairman of the Soloviev Group, said the art installation was an excellent example of the foundation’s philanthropic work, and they hoped the spectacular light display would bring joy and hope to New Yorkers.
“The site is the most exciting site in New York City,” Soloviev said. “Bruce Monroe, our artist, we’re proud to have him do this, and it’s going to be on for a year, and we expect a lot of visitors.”
Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group, said the lighting exhibit presented the future and described the art installation as “the light at the end of the tunnel” after trying times.
“People can be proud of this,” Hershman said. “They can be inspired by this; they can leave feeling the resilience of the city and the country.”
“Field of Light” opens to the public on Dec. 15. Hours of operation during the Winter season are Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. The exhibition is already sold out through February 2024, but tickets for the Spring season will become available on Feb. 1.
Visitors are encouraged to check the Field of Light website for notifications and updates for any additional times that might become available.
Read More: SPECIAL REPORT | The NYPD is on a mission to stop fare evasion. Here’s why it matters.
