Clearing the East Bathtub (Detail) by Marcus Robinson

Artist Documents World Trade Center Rebuilding Without Words

Clearing the East Bathtub (Detail) by Marcus Robinson
Clearing the East Bathtub (Detail) by Marcus Robinson (marcusrobinsonart.com)

Artisan and filmmaker Marcus Robinson, a native of Ireland, has been documenting the World Trade Center site rebuild through his “Rebuilding the World Trade Center” installation, which is a series of artistic works, ranging from paintings to drawings to short films. Robinson purposely chose to create a body of work that could not be restrained by language and cultural barriers and therefore elected to demonstrate the events that took place on the site. Robinson has self-funded his project, with some financial help from Silverstein Properties.

DNAInfo reports that Robinson, 51, moved to TriBeCa to be closer to the site. “It’s about the passing of time and the whole idea of transformation,” he said. He began working on the project in 2006, when the first foundation at One World Trade Center was laid down.

To date, the project hosts 40 paintings and 70 drawings and is only scratching the surface of its potential. Robinson hopes to one day craft a film that combines video footage of the events along with his artwork, juxtaposing the physical world with the envisioned one. He won’t show his work or release a film until construction on the site is finished, which will take years. Robinson, however, is committed to seeing this project through to completion at all costs.

Robinson, who has a background in architectural photography and documentary filmmaking, works on his paintings at the World Trade Center site itself, as well as on the 48th floor of 7 World Trade Center, which has spectacular views of the harbor and Midtown. He captures the workers as they do their thing and placed time-lapse cameras around the site. His work is abstract, capturing shapes and colors as opposed to concrete imagery.

Are you interested in seeing the end result of Robinson’s work?

8 thoughts on “Artist Documents World Trade Center Rebuilding Without Words

  1. I work with young art students and to see their interpretations and creativity
    is amazing. The idea of painting an ever changing landscape sounds
    a bit maddening but maybe its seen as a bit of a challenge by a true seasoned artist.

    1. Personally, I’m a little frustrated by the pending snow weather forecasts
      and I was just looking around the Food/and Arts pages to get my mind off of it.
      So it seems ironic that I’ve complained to co-workers about the bitter cold and
      my problems “getting around” and totally forget about others, like these men
      whose livelyhood depends on working outside daily in snow and ice and mud.
      Alexis notes the Ground Zero rebuilding ‘ever changing landscape’.
      Soon to be – adding with layers of pending fresh snow! I can really admire this artist’s patience and I like his quote “It’s about the passing of time and the whole idea of transformation,”.

    2. I was just reading the DNAinfo.com article; “Weather Emergency Lifted After Snow Moves Out ” ( complete with a little snow slide show!) and it reminded me of this open landscape of the World Trade Center site. I guess I am trying to envision the peace of a white blanket of fresh snow covering all softly in my mind’s eye.

      1. Hard to believe tomorrow is Ground Hog Day. Rain, sleet and gusty winds predicted.
        Last year Staten Island Chuck bit Mayor Bloomberg, so if “Chuck”‘s wranglers have any sense they’ll leave him alone until the weather warms up another 20 degrees.

  2. Yup! its freezing again… But cheer-up ! There’s at least a dozen in-door art fairs opening this week, like the Park Avenue Armory show ( 23rd year).

    1. Speaking of TriBeCa… and a variety of artistic expressions ….
      The annual “T.O.A.S.T.” / TriBeCa Open Artist Studio Tour will be coming-up the weekend of ;
      April 29th -thru- May 2nd, 2011.
      This year, their 15th Annual ! Open Studio Tour will be featuring approximately 100 artists with all kinds of varying styles. The whole event will be held within 36 different buildings.. all in the TriBeCa area. So if it rains… you just run between the drops from building to building.
      But if the weather is nice… then.. this gives you an opportunity for a good healthy walk around the area. Real close to Battery Park City too !
      And why not invite a friend ? Life’s too short not to go enjoy being around people.
      So.. have a look for yourself.. and enjoy ! www .toastartwalk . com

  3. I like the cut of his jib !
    RE: Artist, Robinson purposely chose to create a body of work that could not be restrained by language and cultural barriers and therefore elected to demonstrate the events that took place on the site.

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