By Elizabeth Ladzinski
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CHELSEA — Watch out: the newest installation at the Rubin Museum of Art will melt right before your eyes.
In fact, that's the idea. Atta Kim, a Korean-born artist, designed a 1,300 lbs. 5-foot-tall ice sculpture of Buddha as part of the Museum's Asian Contemporary Art Week.
"It's exquisite, it really is," said Terry Kidner, 68, of New Jersey, who stopped by the museum for a visit. "It's so organic, I love that it's doing something."
Starting at 6 p.m. Friday, visitors will be able to come to the museum — which is offering free admission Friday night — to touch and collect melting water from the statue.
"I think it will be really exciting through Saturday morning," said Beth Citron, the curator at the museum, of the melting statue.
Kim, who spoke via translator, said that the water represents how everything is connected, and that the shape isn't as important as its meaning.
"Water is the fundamental ingredient of life, and is the fundamental element showing that everything is connected," Kim said.
Visitors can collect water with a Japanese bamboo spoon and small container. Citron suggested using the water to plant a new seedling for spring.
The exhibit will be open all night in order for visitors to watch the complete transformation of the sculpture into water.
Susan Wadelton, 65, visiting the city from Connecticut, summed up the exhibit in a few words — no pun intended.
"It's really cool," Wadelton said.
Check out the museum's website for more details.
