Athens– and Berlin-based art duo “Plastique Fantastique” has brought “auruBOROS,” a 98-foot golden serpent sculpture, to the High Line in New York City. Commissioned by Bvlgari as part of its Serpenti Infinito series, this is the brand’s first public art piece in the United States. The installation, mimicking the grandeur of solid gold yet upheld by air, is a testament to the duo’s architectural ingenuity.
The Vision Behind the Golden Serpent Sculpture
Marco Canevacci and Yena Young, the creative minds behind Plastique Fantastique, have been creating inflatable art installations since 1999, using air and plastic film as their primary materials. Their portfolio includes wrapping a Paris footbridge with a giant inflatable ring and transforming Venice Pavilion during the 2019 Biennale. Now, with auruBOROS, they debut their first public artwork in the United States.
The piece combines “aurum,” Latin for gold, and “ouroboros,” the ancient symbol of a serpent devouring its own tail. The artists open this symbolic circle, allowing it to meander through the urban landscape of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. As the artists stated, this installation breaks away from simply enlarging known symbols, seeking instead profound interaction with its environment.
Extending from The Standard Hotel through the elevated greenway of the High Line, the installation invites visitors to stroll alongside its shimmering, coiled form. Unlike traditional sculptures, auruBOROS integrates vertically and horizontally with the surroundings, seamlessly blending into the park’s atmosphere.
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The structure is composed of golden mirrored TPU and ventilators, measuring 30 × 10 × 10 meters. This reflective surface absorbs its dynamic environment, capturing everything from the shifting weather to passers-by. The alchemical transformation implied by its golden hue underscores its ephemeral nature.
Air is the essential component of this work’s existence. Its Greek nomenclature, pneuma, encapsulates the essence of breath and spirit. Despite its monumental appearance, this installation remains light and transient, embodying fragility amid perceived permanence.
The High Line, a reclaimed freight line, serves as an ideal setting. Known for hosting public art, it now features auruBOROS, which resonates with its theme of Urban Memory and Collective Dream. On view from September 10 to 20, 2026, this installation follows other international iterations of Bvlgari Serpenti Infinito.
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This touring series began in Shanghai and has traveled through Seoul and Mumbai, each location testing the adaptability of the serpent emblem. Unlike static jewelry forms, the soft, inflatable medium of Plastique Fantastique adapts to change, adding another layer of complexity and engagement.
Visitors never see a complete image in the sculpture’s curved mirrors. Instead, a fragmented reflection—and the shared experience of those around them—creates a communal yet unique encounter. Plastique Fantastique coins this as Public Love. When the installation concludes, what remains is the shared memory of fleeting reflections and connections.
Source: urdesignmag.com
Frequently asked questions
Who created the auruBOROS sculpture?
The sculpture auruBOROS was created by the art duo Plastique Fantastique, consisting of Marco Canevacci and Yena Young.
Where is the auruBOROS sculpture located?
The auruBOROS sculpture is located on the High Line in New York City’s Meatpacking District.
What materials are used in the auruBOROS sculpture?
The auruBOROS sculpture is composed of golden mirrored TPU and ventilators, highlighting its reflective surface and dynamic interaction with the environment.