There are two whimsical pink chairs floating over Union Square right now
If you find yourself in Union Square these days, you’d be remiss not to do a double-take: that’s because there are currently two pink chairs facing each other while soaring 15 feet into the sky smack-dab in the middle of the park as part of a new public art installation.
Dubbed “The Space Between Us,” the project is by artist, composer and sculptor Risha Gorig, and it has a deep meaning behind it.
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The two soaring chairs are meant to represent the act of public discourse, elevating conversation far above the chaos of the city. If the chairs look vaguely familiar, that’s because they were installed at the Fulton Ferry Landing at Brooklyn Bridge Park in 2000. Back then, they served as commentary on the gap between the working class and folks just across the river, managing Wall Street.
Once again, the location of the artwork is imperative to its meaning, but this time it’s more about cohesion than division.
“It brings me great excitement to unveil ‘The Space Between Us’ in Union Square, particularly with the neighborhood’s legacy as a vibrant hub where people from all walks of life converge,” said Gorig in an official statement. “From the Climate Clock directly behind TSBU to the chess matches that take place daily, New York City embodies a noticeable, consistent cycle of give-and-take that extends beyond its boundaries. When this cycle is interrupted, the flow of progress falters.”
Gorig, who grew up in Munich and is now based in Brooklyn, works across several mediums, producing works as large-scale paintings, kinetic outdoor sculptures, videos and performances.
The sculpture was brought to this part of the city by the Union Square Partnership, an organization that intends to create positive changes in Union Square, and Art in the Parks, which introduces contemporary artwork to parks throughout the city.
“The Space Between Us” will on display through May of 2025.