This summer the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art sprouted an incredible bamboo jungle as artists Doug and Mike Starn erected their “Big Bambú: You Can’t, You Don’t and You Won’t Stop” installation. We last reported on the installation back in April, and we recently had a chance to take some exclusive photographs to show the remarkable transformation that this piece has undergone thus far. The artists and a team of savvy rock climbers have built upon existing architectural element to create an original piece that fuses performance art, architecture and sculpture. The installation, which will run until the 31st of October, is mid-way materialized, and its final form will feature a cresting wave that reaches 50 feet above the rooftop.
The construction of the piece creates a habitat that is unique and detached from its urban surroundings. Its organic interface strikes a bold contrast against the backdrop of the New York skyline, as does its curvilinear composition. The base of the structure forms a forest of bamboo with a narrow path through which visitors can walk. Ultimately, the sculpture will be 50 feet high and will span the entire length of the roof, with a web of elevated interweaving paths offering viewers a chance to explore the intricacies of the structure themselves.
Amusingly, Big Bambú’s striking organic form has attracted much attention from local wildlife, with hawks and other birds setting up roost in the installation. Unfortunately, due to the temporal nature of this exhibit, the museum has had to take cautious measures to keep these birds from creating a habitat that will eventually have to be disrupted in October when Big Bambú is dismantled.
+ Big Bambú
+ Starn Studio
