Work selected: Glenn Ligon, For Comrades and Lovers (2015). 63 Fifth Avenue.

For Comrades and Lovers is made with purple neon lights that are bent into shape of letters, forming sentences, or words, that extends to 400 feet long. The letters themselves are in a clean font and slim stroke. The light coming out from the neon is relatively dim, or comfortable to the eyes compared to most neon artworks. This piece of site specific artwork is located at the lobby staircase in The New School University Center. It is a big piece of work, which makes it visually significant in the space. The work is wrapped around the top edge of the walls of the big, grey staircase that leads to event cafe, which is one level lower from ground floor. If one is walking down or up the stairs, he or she can easily see the piece from either angle. The electricity cords are so well organized and hidden, it is almost impossible to spot them. The meaning of the words in this piece can be open for people to discuss, however it clearly includes political content, sexuality, and poetry qualities. The content of the work and how it is naturally wrapping a space without adding pressure to the space users are subtly reciprocal. Site specific art is about creating an artwork based and depend on a certain space, thus the artist definitely put in a lot of thoughts while designing the relationship between this work and the university space. It is especially difficult to handle because it is in an institution. This site specific art is a part of University Center and a part of our school, in which people explore the meanings of art, design, and many other topics with individual thoughts and respect.
The relationship between this space and the work can be very interesting. Personally after learning the concepts behind the work I find it very inspiring. I often spend time at the stair case and the event cafe to think about ideas for my projects. Reading the words on the wall sometimes spark new concepts in my head. However besides my own experience, I believe the reason the university and the artist picked this location is to place people in the situation and try to encourage thinking, in any aspects. With the political content that the artist included in this work, I think he might also want people in our university to be aware of current events and hold our own opinions toward them. Individual thinking, creativity, and innovation is very crucial to The New School and it’s students as well as faculties. Therefore I do think our school can make a bigger effort on introducing this piece detailedly and openly in order to achieve the meaningful purpose of it.
The work is responding positively to the space as so far the responses received by this work is positive. Many words on the wall are about love (which includes self love too), mental power, calming elements, and some seemingly mysterious content. As a whole For Comrades and Lovers is a visually and mentally appealing work. This piece is considered beautiful, appropriate to the space, and comfortable to look at. Since the huge neon piece is located in such a popular space, it is outstanding that students and faculties are very used to its existence and appreciate it. The artist, Glenn Ligon, hopes to emphasize the new concept The New School decided to put effort in, which is bringing in new visual identity, as well as the combination of technology, and art and design. Neon is a relatively new type of media to be used in art, and I think it is very eye catching and fascinating.