Just because it’s a parking structure, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and unappreciated. Large plain expanses like that make the perfect canvas for murals and wall sculptures and Rob Ley of Urbana Studio went with the latter and designed May/September, an interactive art project that transformed the exterior of the new Eskenazi Hospital parking deck in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Using approximately 7,000 panels, in 18 different sizes/angles that range in size from 300mm tall x 600mm long to 300mm tall x 1m long, the result is a massive, interactive element for the city’s residents to enjoy.
They chose to keep the sculpture parts immobile, as a kinetic approach would require maintenance over the years. Besides, most people viewing the sculpture would be walking, riding their bicycles, or in a car driving by, therefore seeing how it changes depending on where they’re viewing it from. When standing to one side of the wall, you’ll spot the golden yellow panels. Move to the other side to gradually see the deep blue panels come to life.
The color and transparency shifts as you change your vantage point, giving the viewer a sense that the piece is actually changing. Depending on the angle of each panel, you get the illusion that different hues were used and not just one color.
Photos by Serge Hoeltschi.

3 Comments
steaksandwich on 08.11.2014 at 19:42 PM
Nice Project, but how in the world is it “interactive” ?!
Michael on 08.12.2014 at 11:10 AM
Yes, I was wondering about Caroline’s definition of the word.
Every relief sculpture kinetic or not, offers varying views, dependant upon the angle it is viewed from…a small critique of a really nice presentation, that even included the lovely detail specs…a very nice touch that can help burgeoning artists to see how details really need to be resolved, and that helps a jury gain a lot of confidence in the proposed work.
Thanks Caroline !
Tony Gushanas on 08.14.2014 at 21:35 PM
It’s so awesome to see parking garages come to life and morph into art. This building is beautiful, and it shows even through the architectural process.
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