22/9/2011
Y by Sislej Xhafa
Hardau Park, Zurich
Unveiling of the public sculpture
The installation of the public sculpture Y by Sislej Xhafa for the Hardau Park in Zurich, which won the prize launched in 2009 by the city of Zurich will be unveiled on September 23rd 2011. The project Y by Kosova born artist Sislej Xhafa was submitted in collaboration with Frederic Levrat and Iso Asani. They propose a 16 meter high sculpture in the form of a large slingshot. On its swing people can sit and if the swing is occupied by people the slingshot itself becomes illuminated. This project reveals an ambiguity of perception; the project is at the same time clearly iconic, while simultaneously it does everything to repudiate it original formal meaning. It is a large slingshot that is easily recognisable as a clear symbol of resistance. The sculpture represents a time of hardship, heroism, violence and authenticity while its scale makes it obsolete and absurd; its materialisation makes it too clean, fragile and ghostly; its function as a lamp and swing comfortably numb.