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Corporate Art

In the movie Fight Club they called it “corporate art.” My description of it wouldn’t be so cynical, but there are some head-scratchers out there. Generally, corporate art is sponsored by a large company to beautify their buildings. It usually expresses some aspect of business and optimism. Here are some examples of corporate art around where I’m living:

Some sort of number wall. I think it’s some kind of clock because the lighted number changes. I took this picture at about noon. I have no idea what the 5 means.

A big square with a shiny off-set disk. If you look at it from the right angle it looks like an open vault. Plus the reflection back through the hole makes it look like a series of circular rings.

The Sphere used to be corporate art, displayed at the World Trade Center until 9/11. It survived the disaster and is now on display in Battery Park. Since it’s in a park now, I’d consider it public art.

I don’t know what it is. It’s some kind of spiraly silver tower.

The famous bronze bull statue welcoming you to the financial district. A “bull market” is when market prices are going steadily up.

A red cube with a hole through it. I don’t get it either, but it means something to someone.

A paper looking tree-mushroom statue thing outside the Chase bank building.

Wielded metal sculpture I found in a small plaza. I’m not sure if it’s corporate art or public art.