A digital archive of Asian/Asian American contemporary art history

Homeland Security Garden

36x600x720 inches (h x w x d)
2005
artificial maze w/ 200 "emergency kit"

A large-scale public art project, "Homeland Security Garden" (New York City, 2005) presented at The World Financial Center Winter Garden, in conjunction with The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's "What Comes After: Cities, Art and Recovery," investigates political and psychological in/security in the post 9/11 world. The World Financial Center Winter Garden was destroyed during the 9/11 attacks in NYC, 2001, and has rebuilt. This site has both an important architectural and historical significance.
It is a giant artificial maze that consists of 200 “Emergency Kits” created from donated objects that people considered essential to survive a crisis. Individuals from many different religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic communities around New York , including people from Asian, Muslim, African American, Jewish and Latino communities, contributed personal items, both intimate and practical. These “Emergency Kits” are then displayed on Astroturf covered pedestals in the structure of a maze or garden. The “garden” evokes a traditional sense of home and place while the “maze” represents the difficulties of navigating the world's current complexities.

Style/Period

Conceptual
Poster
Garden View 1
Garden View 2
Emergency Kit 1
Emergency Kit 2
Emergency Kit 3
Garden View 3
Garden View 4
Source: Unknown
Poster Garden View 1 Garden View 2 Emergency Kit 1 Emergency Kit 2 Emergency Kit 3 Garden View 3 Garden View 4