Client: Battery Park City Authority

Overview

Bird’s-Eye View is an innovative Augmented Reality installation specifically created for the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) waterfront. The installation celebrates the stunning coastline of Manhattan and the wonder of migration patterns, showcasing digitally-created birds alongside breathtaking views of Battery Park from above. Artist Sadé utilized her expertise in technology and carefully studied BPCA’s commitment to environmental sustainability to create a temporary installation that bridges the potential of technology and brings viewers closer to nature in a new and exciting way. Inspired by the global wandering of both humans and nature, Bird’s-Eye View (2022) explores the migratory birds that call Battery Park City’s gardens and parks home. Through cutting-edge AR technology, the site reveals over 30 species of birds that find temporary or permanent oases along the southwest coastline of Manhattan. This installation is designed to be easily accessed by individuals at a dozen activation locations along the Hudson River, simply by using the Adobe Aero app on their smartphones.

Goals

An early objective of this artwork was to foster an appreciation for nature in urban environments. This objective aligns with the overarching philosophy of the Battery Park City Authority, which places a premium on sustainability and biodiversity. Through in-depth research on the lives and migrations of birds, I encountered a whole new world of these exquisite creatures that regularly visit our parks, and which inspired my artwork.
Birds have long been symbols of freedom. The Battery Park Esplanade, located across from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, holds particular resonance as a site of freedom and the gateway to a new nation for generations of immigrants.

Process

In partnership with the Battery Park City Authority, I created Bird's Eye View. This endeavor entailed a close collaboration with BPCA President B.J. Johns, Director of Park Programming Abby Ehrlich, and other members and staff of the organization. Additionally, I worked with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and many avid birders to collect images and sounds of birds from the Macaulay Library, as well as with the Audubon Society and Adobe Aero app to bring the artwork to life in all its splendor.