MTA Arts & Design, New york

We are each others, 2018

8 unique sculptural benches and 14 unique windscreens
Stainless steel and steel, 2018

Permanent installation on the New York City Subway, spanning 18th Avenue and Kings Highway stations on the F line.

Fabricated by KC Fabrications
Photographs by Peter Peirce
Project managers Yaling Chen and Bridget Donlon

Brooklyn-based artist Julien Gardair created We are each others for the Kings Highway and 18th Avenue Stations. The artwork depicts figural sculptures with seating elements and whimsical windscreen panels. Figures from local history as well as present-day residents were the inspiration for the stainless steel sculptures. The artist refers to the early days of the area such as the arrival of European settlers and the foundation of the Culver train line at the turn of the 20th century bringing an expansion of residents in South Brooklyn. This series of joyful sculptures also captures themes of family life and resourcefulness in the neighborhood. Each sculpture is strictly made from a single piece of metal, cut along one continuous line and folded.
The sculptures are linked to one another by ornemental windscreens. For these the artist drew a line that divides a panel in 2 parts. Each piece is repeated, then arranged in multiple ways to create 14 unique configurations. The positive and negative arrangements mirror each other from across the platform at each station.
Gardair created all of the artwork with a no-waste design framework which relates to the future of the neighborhood and the environmental impact of all of New York City. Passengers will travel through time and imagination on their commute when experiencing Julien Gardair's We are each others artwork at these two Culver Line Stations.