For my monument, I have chosen Times Square as my site. It is commonly referenced to as “The Crossroads of the World” and “The Center of the Universe”. As one of the most visited tourist attractions, Times Square is constantly filled with people from all over the world. Approximately 50 million visitors are drawn in to the site annually. An estimate of 330,000 people pass through Times Square daily. It is also a major hub for entertainment, being the center of the Broadway Theater District.
My monument will be an abstract representation of life. The piece will be a more organic shape, to contrast the hard, geometric surroundings of Times Square. The concept is that all humans come from and return to the same place: the Earth. It levels everyone down to their most basic selves, showing that everyone is equal and the same. It protests the discrimination and degradation of any human. The physical piece will seem like it comes naturally from the ground, roll into a circle, and then go back into the ground peacefully. This represents the life cycle. In the center, there will be a hole where an intricate plexiglass piece with be held, illustrating the many lens that someone is seen through. All different kinds of people from all over the world visit Times Square, so the piece can be seen with all different eyes and lenses. And so the message will be clear; no matter where you’re from, what your gender or sexual orientation is, or how old you are, every single one of is the same.
