Arts for Transit and Urban Design

51st Street/Lexington Avenue-53rd Street

Nina Yankowitz

Tunnel Vision, 1988

Ceramic tile in lower pass

Tunnel Vision consists of handmade tiles that line the 51st Street and Lexington Avenue subway underpass. The 1,000 square-foot ceramic tile installation contains a series of wide cracks that appear as deep indentations in the form of lightning bolts ripping through the site and exposing bright blue marbleized water tiles. Revealed within are seascapes that offer a view to another realm. A ceramic relief architectural frieze of the New York City skyline in red, black, and white wraps around the top portion of the walls, and column-like forms appear as pillars supporting the ceiling. The passage is made to feel more expansive as the view Yankowitz provides adds dimension, detail, and interest.