Encompassing Aiso
Judge John Aiso Plaza (downtown Los Angeles, CA)

2010

“Encompassing Aiso” has two main features that are inter-related: portals and pathways. Together they function as an integrated site-specific artwork that is sequentially revealed as a visitor moves through the plaza. The portals are metal cylinders that pierce the plaza. In the portals, there are silhouettes of images culled from the selected iconic LA sites. Around them, there are vector arms etched with the latitude and longitude of other important sites. During the day these images are seen against the backdrop of the level below, and at night, the portals are illuminated with a circular lighting from below. Each pathway originates at a portal and heads out (in an immense imaginary ellipse) to two points in LA. When a pathway reaches the bounding walls, lights have been inserted into cuts in the wall; blue for minor axes, white for major. The portals and pathways are distributed throughout the plaza esthetically and complementary to the geometric concrete coloring, cutting and glass block patterns inserted by the project architect. This work was designed in collaboration with Telemachus Studio, the overall site was done by 010 Architecture Studio, particularly Li Wen.

back to public art