Atlanta-based artist Gregor Turk installed his latest piece, “Myriad,” a permanent public art work commissioned by the Piedmont Park Conservancy and funded by the The Antinori Foundation, on Dec. 17.
Installed near the Meadow entrance of Piedmont Park, just off the Atlanta BeltLine, the work features 36 convex mirrors arranged in a sweeping arc. Unveiled as the park enters its busiest holiday season, “Myriad” arrives at a moment when many Atlantans are in constant motion. We spoke with Turk about how the piece is meant to function not just as art, but as a place to pause, reset, and reconnect.
“Myriad” reveals different views depending on where you stand and how long you stay. What do you notice happens when people give the work more than a quick glance?
“There are so many different angles and reflections. If you stay for a little bit, you’ll watch people walk by. Some of the mirrors have a lot of people in them, some don’t, and it just kind of takes on a life of its own. You’ve got three different sizes, different diameters, and that means the amount of what you’re seeing is different in each one. The angles change everything, too. The lighting changes. When you move through it, everything shifts. Even just standing a few feet over, you’re getting a completely different reflection.”
When people encounter “Myriad” in one of the park’s most active areas, how do you hope they engage with it?
“I would hope that people experience the piece and interact with others as well. There can be some conversation, or even just how people are engaged in the space. Some people just come in and zoom in on one mirror, and others are trying to capture everything. How you interact with what’s going on behind you—watching people walk by—is actually pretty cool. If a cyclist goes by, or a runner, something faster shows up, and it’s a little bit like different camera lenses almost.”
What role do Piedmont Park and the seasons play in how “Myriad” functions?
“It’s a dialogue between people, with yourself, with others, and then with the landscape. You throw in the lighting and the temperature and all that, and it mixes it all up. Every season will be different. Every hour will be different. When the sun is in a different position, it illuminates the space in a different way, and the shadows fall differently.”
What does placing a permanent work in Piedmont Park mean to you as an Atlanta native?
“This is kind of my backyard. Piedmont Park is part of my daily life. I’ve done a number of projects in this area, and when we brought everyone to this site—the conservancy, the funder—everybody agreed, this is the spot. It’s out of the meadow, but it’s very much part of the meadow, and it’s one of the most active spaces in the park.
“As people move through ‘Myriad,’ they become part of the artwork itself. The mirrors create a shared experience where viewers see themselves, each other, and the landscape in unexpected ways.
“MYRIAD” Artist Gregor turk
Why use convex security mirrors, objects we usually associate with surveillance?
“There’s no difference between a safety mirror and a security mirror. It’s how they’re used. We’re surrounded by surveillance and security in the landscape now, and we don’t even notice it. I’m trying to create an element of joy, but using something that we’re used to seeing as a means of security or safety. Here, you’re a willing participant.”
If someone only has a few minutes with the work, what do you hope stays with them?
“As people move through ‘Myriad,’ they become part of the artwork itself. The mirrors create a shared experience where viewers see themselves, each other, and the landscape in unexpected ways.”
Read More:
• Interactive art installation reflects Ponce de Leon Avenue
• Artist revives name of historic Blandtown with installation