Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Check Out This Mesmerizing Illuminated Plume Of Water Vapor In LIC
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 1, 2016
Modified Jul 1, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 14
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 1, 2016
Modified Jul 1, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Currently residing at LIC's Hunter’s Point South Park is a new piece of public art best viewed after dusk (or around dawn). Mika Tajima's "Merdian (Gold)" offers a colorful display of smokey mist set against the Manhattan skyline. The piece itself is kind of like a mood ring, with fluctuating hues of magenta and pale cyan—the color shifs in relation to "the global sentiment for gold, reflected in the price fluctuation of the commodity." Look a little deeper and you'll also see commentary on how material things are meaningless and will leave you empty and alone. Sad! But true!
From SculptureCenter, the not-for-profit arts institution that's been around since 1928 and commissioned the piece.
Gold is a peculiar material that derives its value from the social perception of its qualities and collective “moods” toward geopolitical and economic events. The framing structure for Meridian (Gold) is a seating zone that references communal rejuvenation spas and here becomes a site to reflect on the fleeting materiality of contemporary life. The project was selected by participants in Public Process, SculptureCenter’s intensive program for high school students that uses New York City’s rich public art landscape to explore the history and impact of public art and its community influence.
As you'll see in these photos, you can stand inside of it, so you should be seeing a lot of this on your Instagram feed soon.
You can see the piece through September 25th, from dawn to 10 p.m.
Tagged
lic
Merdian (Gold)
Mika Tajima
public art
queens
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Challenge accepted: We went hunting for the secret bolt in Central Park
Armed with a close-up image of the bolt and two hours to be out of the office, could we find this historic artifact?
By
James Ramsay
Published Aug 6, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Monica Barbaro's guide to running around New York City in heels
In 'One Night Only,' the actress deftly navigates the streets in her stilettos. She explains how she did it.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Monica Barbaro's guide to running around New York City in heels
In 'One Night Only,' the actress deftly navigates the streets in her stilettos. She explains how she did it.
By
Sonia Rao
Do NYC restaurant workers have their knives out for the Anthony Bourdain movie?
By
Sonia Rao
NYC and NJ players celebrate the beginning of the Women's Pro Baseball League
By
Michael Hill
and
Amanda Rozon
August concerts in NYC means bands on a boat, in a backyard, and in parks
By
Hank Shteamer
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .