Ugo Rondinone's Monumental Stone Figures 'Human Nature' to Occupy Rockefeller Plaza

Nine colossal stone sculptures by Ugo Rondinone will transform Rockefeller Center from April 23 to June 7. Each towering figure stands between 16 and 20 feet tall, carved from massive bluestone slabs that retain quarry marks like drill holes and splits. The Swiss-born, New York-based artist created these totemic forms for the public installation titled 'Human Nature.' Organized by the Public Art Fund and Tishman Speyer with support from Nespresso, the exhibition brings monumental contemporary art to the heart of Manhattan. Public Art Fund director Nicholas Baume characterizes the works as possessing mythical scale and visceral impact, suggesting they bridge ancient origins with modern experience. Concurrently, Gladstone Gallery will present 'soul' on May 10, featuring smaller bluestone figures by Rondinone for a more intimate viewing. The installation promises to imbue the iconic plaza with what the organizers describe as a shamanic presence through these rough-hewn stone personages.