In Philadelphia, spin the giant dial, find life guidance
PHILADELPHIA — Candy Chang’s public art pieces more than please the eye. They demand dialogue and encourage conversations. Her best-known project, “Before I die,” was duplicated in 1,000 cities in 70 countries as thousands of people chalked their hopes and dreams on walls and fences.
Her latest work, unveiled in Philadelphia on Thursday, is an interactive mural that invites people to think of their biggest challenges and then use the mural to find guidance to move forward.
The work features a 6-foot dial that visitors are encouraged to twirl while thinking of their challenges. The spinner will stop at a number corresponding with one of the stories on either side of the dial that represent lessons from the I Ching, one of the world’s oldest books of wisdom. A guide to the symbols in another part of the mural allows people to then interpret the wheel’s message as they desire.
“I’m interested in how public space can provide value to people and help them make sense of the beauty and tragedy of life,” said Chang, who lives in New Orleans. “Creating emotional spaces where people can be honest and vulnerable can lead to trust and understanding. Making better places can help us become our best selves.”