newInsta-worthyadditionto
NewYorkCity’sskylinemadeits
appearancethisJune.Farfrom
beinganotherstarchitectbuilding
ofdazzlingproportions,thisnewbieisabronze
sculpturethat’sbeencleverlypositionedto
form part of the surroundingcityscape.
‘Brick House’ by US-basedarchitectSimone
Leigh is a 5m-high bustthatispartofarotating
commission of publicartonthecity’sHigh
Line, a picturesquewalkwaythat’sbeencreated
on a former overheadrailwayline.Placedon
what has been namedtheHighLinePlinth,
it will be elevated aboveshoulderleveluntil
September next year,whenanotherworkwill
take its place on thelarge-scaledisplayplinth.
Plinths are not newtotheworldofart,where
they’ve been used forcenturies,appearing
as heavy bases or boxesonwhichstatuesor
sculptures are positioned.ThattheHigh
Line is employing thismethodisnothing
revolutionary. Whatisnotable,however,
is the way it causespassers-bytoregardthe
artwork outside of anartgalleryenvironment.
Raised off the floor,itbecomessomething
to look up toward –admirationinadvertently
fabricated in the mind’seye.TheHighLine
Plinth gives prominencetothesculptureit
holds – setting it apartfromtheotherpublic
works along the walkway.Itasksyoutopause,
cast your eyes upward,walkaroundandstudy.
This gentle cue ofcurationismovingeven
further away from theartgalleryandsculpture
garden. It’s findingitswayintoourhomes,
offering an artisticapproachtointeriordisplays
that turn us into contemplativedecorators- and our guests intoengagedobservers.
In the same way thataframecompletes
a painting, plinths havebecometheultimate
exclamation mark forreveredobjetsd’art,
showstopper plantsandbelovedfashion
accessories,bothcallingattentionand urging
deeperconsideration.Thetrendtodisplay one’s
favouritecollector’ssneakersonapedestal in the
passageway,ortoplaceasinglebloomin a vessel
onacylindricalstandintheentrancehall, is
turninghomesintoexhibit-likeshowrooms.
That’snottosaythere’sasterilityto this
leaning.Onthecontrary,showroomsthemselves
arebecomingmorelikehomes,portraying
covetablelivingenvironmentswherethe art
hangingonthewallsandtheglasscollections
inthecabinetsareasimportantasthe comfort
ofthesofa,theambienceofthelighting and the
limited-editioncandlestickperchedon a plinth.
Thelinesareblurredbetweenthe‘product’ these
storessellandthe‘lifestyle’theyencapsulate.
Theplinthactsasthevisualconnector
betweenthesetwoworldsofreal-lifehouse
andconceptshop.Itenableshomeowners to
grantherostatustoitemsintheirliving spaces,
literallyraisingthemclosertoeyelevel and
invitingthemintotheforegroundofthe home’s
overallnarrative.Andplinthsallowstores the
abilitytoconceptualiseclevervignettes that
bestshowofftheiroffering,whileportraying
arealisticmodeofstylishliving.
Althoughacoffeetablestackedwith books
andscatteredwithtravelparaphernalia speaks
totheinterestsofitsowner,it’stheone or two
itemsthataregivenprominenceonthe plinth
thattalktotheinhabitant’smostdearly held
aestheticsensibilitiesandprizedpossessions.
Apiececarefullypositionedonatallmarble
basebecomesacentrepieceinthedining
room–artthatcommunicatesareverence
forthematerial,theartistandthecraft.
AswiththeHighLinePlinth,it’sabout placing
somethingpreciousonapedestal,raising it on
aplatformthatallowsittobethefocus of the
room,andinvitingtheviewertowander around,
andwonder.Othehighline.org/artVIEW / TRENDTEXTTRACYLYNNCHEMALY
STYLINGSANRIPIENAARPHOTOGRAPHINGEPRINSAUG 28 SEPThe rise of the plinth in home decor is a nod to the
fluid line that exists between art and design