Hall of Birds

1995-96

Painted aluminum

Dimensions variable

Jon Kessler is an American artist who was born in Yonkers, New York in

1957. Kessler’s work is focused primarily on exploring the nuances of instal-

lation and sculpture. Many of his pieces contain instances of constant kinetic

movement, which imbue the work with a unique breath of life. Thematically,

Kessler analyzes the modern-day anxieties of our culture. When we live in a

world so saturated in images and technology, how do we disentangle

ourselves from the all-consuming web of that experience and reaffirm our

sense of autonomy? Through his installations, Kessler invites his audience

into a personally constructed wonderland that encourages deep reflection.

Using designs inspired by the artist’s interest in Japanese culture and art,

Hall of Birds transforms the space in which it's housed into an aviary that’s

much larger than life. Each bird is imbued with its own unique personality,

and installed strategically in the space by the artist’s own hand. On the

surface, the piece is joyous and unassuming, a pleasant and fantastic fixture

that acts as a landmark in the Campus One building. The spectacle of the

piece invites viewers to stand still and breathe in the moment of tranquility, to

pause on the stairs and take a moment for themselves during the hustle and

bustle of corporate life. Below the surface, it invokes questions of the com-

plex relationship between the man-made and natural world. What happens

when the things we construct grow large enough to consume us?

-Lilly Ross