A few weeks ago, 100 wooden chairs with desks, typical of American schools, appeared in the centre of Madison Square Park in New York. The installation is called “Brier Patch” by Hugh Hayden.

However, the American artist‘s chairs have a special feature: bare branches grow out of each of them, creating a sort of small forest in the park.

This is not the first time that Hugh Hayden has confronted himself with this type of sculpture and object: during his career he has often presented installations and exhibited works in galleries that started from the classical forms of chairs and tables and then became true sculptures. 

In the case of “Brier Patch” in Madison Square Park, the artist appeals precisely to the concept of the bush, which for some may represent a safe place to hide, while for others it may be a place that inspires fear and dread. This difference in thinking is intended to mirror the inequalities that exist within the American school system. 

The work was commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy and will remain on view until 24 April.