Monday, April 01, 2024

'Identified Flying Object' (Bird Cage)

Identified Flying Object at night
Keilyn swinging inside the birdcage.

Since the redevelopment of the area around King's Cross many art installations have come and gone. 

One of these installations, that appeared in the sky above King's Cross, was Jaques Rival's IFO (Bird Cage), which, for 95% of the time, rests in the centre of the Battle Bridge Place.

Although this birdcage has white bars, at night it changes to a neon spectrum, releasing the energy that it has stored throughout the day.

Its bars are wide enough for people to walk through and, should you enter the birdcage,  you will find a swing at its centre.

Identified Flying Object at night
The rain allows for some great reflections.

The IFO (Identified Flying Object), designed by Jaques Rival, was originally intended as a framing device for street theatre, during the day. Once a month it was hoisted up into the sky, above Battle Bridge Place, to light up the area.

Identified Flying Object during the day
The IFO (Bird Cage).

This 9m (29.5 ft) high white cage, containing a swing, was installed in 2011 and was to be in place until 2013. Unbelievably, it is still there.

For me, the Bird Cage is a quirky piece of art that sticks out like a sore thumb, during the day, but looks perfectly suited to the area at night, when it becomes luminous.

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