Look Up Not Down 2005

A 2,000 sq. ft (185 sq. meters) mosaic commissioned by MTA Arts for Transit for the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City, NY. Fabrication by Kolorines, Mosaicos Venecianos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. Photographs: Jan Baracz.

Who hasn’t felt claustrophobic in the subway and wished for a view? Who hasn’t felt disoriented and wished that they could see where they were? “Look Up, Not Down” provides subway users with the view they would see if they were in a building above rather than below ground. The views can be used to navigate the station in relation to the world above. The sun, marks the spot where the World Trade Center, used to be. Ironically, the views were based on photographs taken at the end of 2001, so they are already inaccurate and will only become more so with the passing of time.