In a rare empty lot in Manhattan, amid skyscrapers and bustling avenues, Bruce Munro’s dreamlike installation comes to life. The ‘Field of Light‘ at New York’s Freedom Plaza features artificial flowers that light up at dusk. Instead of stems and petals, it showcases 18,750 fibre optic spheres, glowing with a subtle and gradual change in colour from sunset to dawn. This spectacular contemporary art installation is a must-visit New York for those who love unique and immersive experiences.
Field of Light: the making of an immersive artwork
Bruce Munro, a British artist renowned for his large-scale light and technology-based works, conceived the idea for Field of Light in 1992 during a journey through the Australian Red Desert. He felt a profound connection to the desert’s energy, warmth, and brightness, which he captured in his ever-present sketchbooks. Munro recalls, «I wanted to create a field of illuminated stems that, like a dormant seed in a desert, would bloom at dusk with gentle rhythms of light under a canopy of blazing stars». After a decade of development, the first Field of Light was installed behind his family home in Wiltshire. Since then, the installation has been exhibited worldwide, from Denmark to South Korea, affirming the success of his artistic vision.
Field of Light at Freedom Plaza
The New Yorker version of Field of Light is on display in Freedom Plaza, between 38th and 41st streets east of First Avenue. This space is slated for future mixed-use development by the Danish studio BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. Overlooking the East River and Brooklyn, Field of Light spans over 2,000 square meters and attracts hundreds of visitors each evening.
This enchanting setting was made possible by the Soloviev Foundation, the charitable branch of the Soloviev Group, which supports humanitarian, environmental, and educational causes. Access to the site is free with a prior reservation on the dedicated website, and the installation will remain open until the end of the year. Due to its success (over 30,000 visitors in the first few months), an extension is possible. Don’t miss the chance to add this contemporary art installation to your list of must-visit attractions in New York.