The Rubin Museum (New York City) has an exhibition called Grain of Emptiness: Buddhism-Inspired Contemporary Art, on view through April 11.
One of the featured exhibits is Atta Kim’s dramatic 5 ½ feet tall, 1,300 pound ice sculpture of a seated Buddha.
The ice sculpture will remain on view until completely melted — a process that will take several days — with the melt-water collecting in a pool below.
As the work melts, visitors are encouraged to touch the ice and take away non-potable water from the pool on their way out of the museum, using small glass containers that are provided by the museum. The artist intends that the collected water be used to continue the cycle of renewal by watering a plant.
Thanks to our friends at Tricycle Magazine for the heads-up on this.