New York City is set to host the world’s largest independent art exhibition come April.
Artist Simon Birch will present his first U.S. multi-media exhibition at the former J.P. Morgan headquarters in collaboration with several artists entitled 14th Factory. The 14th Factory will consist of 14 sections spanning seven floors. Each sections will include art instillation such as sculptures, video environments, otherworldly landscapes and performance art. Admission to 14th Factory will be completely free and will run for six weeks.
All of the art from the artists including performance artist Cang Xin Li, Stanley Wong, photographer Wing Shya, composer Gary Gunn, film director Scott Carthy and urban planner Lily Kwong will be auctioned off. The auction will benefit the Robin Hood Foundation, Madison Boys & Girls Club and the GO Campaign. The exhibition also features special programing for inner city youth and disadvantages children.
The concept for 14th Factory comes from the Chinese western trading quarters “Thirteen Factories” of Canton. The artists explore the ideas of meaningful production as well as the nature of empires and the rise and fall and sometimes cyclical nature of life.
The exhibition is the first of a series the 14th Factory Foundation plan to create. The foundation is a non-profit created by Birch aimed at creating interactive art accessible to everyone. More information on the project can be found on their website.