Orly Genger's Monumental Rope Installation 'Red, Yellow and Blue' Transforms Madison Square Park

Orly Genger's large-scale installation 'Red, Yellow and Blue' occupied New York City's Madison Square Park from May 2 to September 8, 2013. The New York-based artist utilized 1.4 million feet of repurposed lobster rope, crocheted by hand into massive strands, which were then spray-painted with 3500 gallons of paint in primary colors. Presented by the Madison Square Park Conservancy at 23 Madison Avenue, the work comprised three distinct sections: a blue wall encircling part of the lawn, a red structure interacting with trees, and a yellow undulating form. Genger encouraged visitor interaction, allowing sitting and leaning on the durable, waterproof rope, though climbing was prohibited. The rope was sourced through the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, which cleaned tons of material originally replaced to protect the rare right whale. Genger described the piece as a 'physical manifestation of time,' representing two years of labor. Art historically, the primary colors evoke De Stijl and Modernist painting, while the use of repurposed material aligns with environmental artists like Jeff Schmuki, and the landscape art has been compared to Richard Serra's steel works and Marco Casagrande's woven installations. Each section offered unique experiences: Blue created a formal enclosure, Red provided shelter and framed trees, and Yellow, with its lower levels, appealed particularly to children. The installation mediated between painting and interactive sculpture on a human scale.