Surrounding the monument, a new granite plaza was installed with specially designed benches and rimmed with seasonal planting beds, to create an oasis in the middle of the Circle. The roadways were reconfigured and the pedestrian walkways and crosswalks enhanced.

In 2005 Columbus Circle was improved with the goal of making it a more hospitable destination for visitors. In conjunction with Tatzu Nishi: Discovering Columbus, Public Art Fund will oversee the conservation of the Columbus Monument in cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. It is the point from which all official distances from New York City are measured.įor more information on these monuments or Central Park, please visit or.

The monument is located in the center of Columbus Circle at the intersection of Eighth Avenue, Broadway, Central Park South (West 59 Street), and Central Park West. Supporting the column is a base adorned with bas relief plaques portraying Columbus’s journey in addition to an American bald eagle, and an allegorical figure titled the “Genius of Discovery.” The monument was sponsored by Il Progresso Italo-Americano, a New York City-based Italian-language newspaper. He stands on a granite column featuring bronze ships’ prows and anchors that refer to his famous voyage with the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Atop the monument is a larger-than-life marble statue of explorer Christopher Columbus, who surveys the City from his perch some 75 feet above the street. Allowing us to take a journey up six flights of stairs to a fictional living room, Tatzu Nishi invites us to discover for ourselves where the imagination may lead.Įrected in 1892, this monument was designed by the Italian artist Gaetano Russo to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas. Discovering Columbus offers both a unique perspective on a historical monument and a surreal experience of the sculpture in a new context. He even designed wallpaper inspired by memories of American popular culture, having watched Hollywood movies and television as a child in Japan. Featuring tables, chairs, couch, rug, and flat-screen television, the décor reflects the artist’s interpretation of contemporary New York style. Nishi’s project re-imagines the colossal 13-foot-tall statue of Columbus standing in a fully furnished, modern living room. Despite its prominent public location, the statue itself is little known, visible only as a silhouette against the sky or at a distance from surrounding buildings. It was unveiled in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s first voyage to the Americas. The marble statue, which rises to more than 75 feet atop a granite column, was designed by the Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo. For his first public project in the United States, Nishi has chosen to focus on the historic statue of Christopher Columbus. His installations give the public intimate access to aspects of our urban environment and at the same time radically alter our perceptions.

1960, Nagoya, Japan) is known internationally for his temporary works of art that transform our experience of monuments, statues, and architectural details.

Columbus circle