Innovative artist Joshua Allen Harris has created a menagerie of inflatable monsters that are ephemeral, whimsical and utterly delightful. All of his different creatures are made from old plastic bags, and magically come to life from the air generated by New York city subway vent exhaust.
Steven Psyllos interviewed Harris recently for New York magazine to discuss his inspiration, artistic process, and to unveil a new animated plastic bag beast; the video was shot by Jonah Green.
Dancing Subway Vent Air Bears
Here is more extended footage of Joshua Allen Harris’ inflatable bears. One of them even appears to have a floppy salmon in its jaws. I really love how the animals seem to giddily wiggle and dance in the exhaust, and then just slowly fall into a peaceful deflated slumber on the grate after the subway car has passed. When the animals are deflated, they are nearly indistinguishable from any random piece of plastic trash on the street. This is truly a simply genius idea for inexpensive recycled public art.
Great idea! I see some of these things on generators for advertising but to use them over the subway vents is very cool and original. Hope you can surprise us with many new ideas like this.