Located at Park Towne Place in Philadelphia, “Water Music” showcases how artist Won Choi merges the physical and spiritual. Waterfalls and streaks of rain have inspired her work and that inspiration can literally be seen in “Water Music”, whose shape and form convey a sense of the fluidity of water. However, the deeper spiritual connection it represents is just as evident and even more important.
The piece features numerous small waters, all of which create different sounds as water flows across it. These sounds generate their own rhythm to the point that audiences can hear an orchestra in the piece, with each individual sounds being heard and yet still able to work in unison to make music. What that music sounds like varies depending on the audience though.
“People see only what they want to see from their point of view but my hope is that people will get the feel for the rhythm of the waterfalls,” said Choi. “What I seek in creating a sculpture is that each piece has its own song. The sculpture has to sing.”
Such expressions are evident in other sculptures that Choi has created, including “Rainbow Harp”, which actually inspired “Water Music”. Allowing audiences to interact and interpret such pieces on a personal level is what enables them to become staples of their communities.
People interpret the shape and form of sculptures like “Water Music” in numerous ways, and they’ll hear the song it has to sing in different ways at various times. This variety is important though, as it encourages audiences to come up with their own interpretations that will be relevant to the surrounding Philadelphia community in the present and for the future.
“The piece was kind of making statement for the place to enhance the site aesthetically that would be more inviting and pleasant,” Choi continued. “It’s my wish to create sculptures that can benefit an entire city by making the surroundings that much more welcoming.”
To learn more about Won Choi, visit her site: www.choisculpture.com
