FRENTE FEROZ
FRENTE FEROZ at the Lee Building in Harlem, NY
Location: The Lee Building | Harlem, NY, 2005
Media: Acrylic, convex lens, LEDs, custom lighting sequence, and electrical hardware
Dimensions: 12 ft x 53 ft x 40 2/3 ft
Since Grimanesa Amorós was a teenager living in Peru, she has been intrigued by the cultural importance of Harlem and has always wanted to create a project in or about it. 125th Street, the heart and soul of this vibrant area, serves as a hub where cultural, political, and social ideas are produced and exchanged.
This installation draws inspiration from commissioner and real estate developer Eugene Giscombe’s passionate interest in exotic and wild animals, as well as Harlem itself. Giscombe describes how his annual family visits to an aunt in rural Watkins Glen, New York, summer camp in the Catskill Mountains, and Boy Scout camping trips instilled a thirst to discover the mysteries of nature, so foreign to city living. He explains, “Time and circumstances allowed me the freedom to satisfy a youthful urge to explore nature and wild places in the US and abroad. This wildlife montage, featuring wild animals from every corner of the earth, represents my attempt to share with city dwellers the wonders of nature around the world—right here in Harlem.”
Frente Feroz aims to capture the attention of passersby on the street and commuters on the adjacent MTA Metro-North platform, however fleeting. The location transforms into a port of intrigue in one of New York’s most diverse areas. The installation evokes responses as varied as the population itself. Each viewer interprets the silhouettes differently, creating a personal yet shared experience. The display not only sparks a desire to return but also encourages others to witness this unique scene.