The Nature of Cities

United Nations Pavilion, Shanghai Expo, China, July, 2010

UNEP asked Art Works for Change to produce an art installation for the UN Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Sixteen video artists, architects and animators created short videos addressing the theme of urban biodiversity.

“The Nature of Cities,” created by the nonprofit Art Works for Change, includes 16 short videos from artists, animators and architects from around the world addressing the theme of urban biodiversity. The result is a visually compelling and entertaining exhibition, combined with effective storytelling, that informs and inspires viewers to respect nature and its habitats. The exhibition asks, "How can cities exist in harmony with the natural world in a way that support both people and the planet?" It is a delicate balance.

Artists: Allora & Calzadilla; Vincent Callebaut; Rob Carter; Catherine Chalmers; Ri Crawford; Anthony Discenza; Cao Fei; Hall Moline; Katja Loher; Kevin Nolting; Sven Pahlsson; Kahn Selesnick; Molly Schwartz; Marina Zurkow.

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MTA Arts for Transit: Bryant Park in Motion
42nd Street-6th Avenue Station, Spring 2010

Organized by: Joshua Spodek, Submedia
Participating artists/students from ITP: Eyal Ohana, Molly Schwartz, Igal Nassima, Brett Murphy

Bryant Park in Motion showcases creative work from the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, on display March 2010 at the Bryant Park/42nd Street station, beneath the southeast corner of the 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue (Bryant Park).

The digital animations are activated by the eyes of viewers walking past the display, similar to zoetropes, which are early animation devices that produce an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures. Each animation is inspired by a facet of Bryant Park. The images portray the park from below the surface to above the skyline.  The short animations run as a continuous loop with intermittent pauses. They are designed to provide visual interest and a surprise to commuters and visitors passing through the subway mezzanine. Submedia creates animated displays for transit systems and generously provided equipment and support to the participating artists for this presentation.