photos by richard barnes | courtesy the glass house
“Startled, uninvited visitors tramp about to view the results with mingled expressions of awe, wonder and indignation. They agree that nothing like it ever was seen in these parts,” wrote the NYT in 1948, reporting from Connecticut where workers were putting the finishing touches on what would become a modernist classic. The Glass House was designed by the influential architect Philip Johnson as his own residence, and with its structure, cemented the architect’s reputation. But now, 65 years later, a similar scene is likely emerge when fog artist (yes, that’s a thing) Fujiko Nakaya stages her temporary installation titled “Fujiko Nakaya: Veil.”
Fog makes visible things become invisible and invisible things—like wind—become visible.
Nakaya, whose father is credited with making the first artificial snowflake, is credited herself with making the world’s first fog sculpture. Nakaya, with her deep understanding of the properties of moisture, has since created fog sculptures all over the world from Spain to Australia. Beginning May 1, the 81-year old artist’s work will envelop The Glass House in a veil of dense mist. “For approximately 10 minutes each hour, the Glass House will appear to vanish, only to return as the fog dissipates,” writes the historic National Trust Historic Site in a press release.
Here’s Nakaya describing what we usually consider a hazard, especially on the road:
“Fog responds constantly to its own surroundings, revealing and concealing the features of the environment. Fog makes visible things become invisible and invisible things—like wind—become visible.”
Tickets for tours ($30) are available through The Glass House website. You can also catch Nakaya at the Japan Society, where she’ll be speaking on May 13.
