Ursula von Rydingsvard
Ona, 2013
Bronze
19 feet high
Photography by Piotr Redlinski
Ona, a monumental cast-bronze sculpture has a richly textured surface, evocative of natural rocky outcrops and simultaneously of ancient monuments. The work, commissioned by Barclays Center to commemorate its one-year anniversary in 2013, is a prominent public artwork placed to face people as they emerge from the busy Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center transit station, and to provide a meeting space within the Barclays plaza.
On May 29th this year, thousands of people gathered at the plaza outside Barclays Center as part of the nationwide protests against the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Speaking about the sculpture upon its initial installation in 2013, von Rydingsvard remarked “You don’t have to pay a fee or enter a museum to view it.” This remains true and the work continues to bear witness to the protests that surround “Her.” – Ashley Martin