Olav Westphalen Extremely Site Un-Specific Sculpture (E.S.U.S.)

Olav Westphalen (b. 1963, Hamburg, Germany) describes Extremely Site-Unspecific Sculpture (E.S.U.S.) as “an artwork which functions equally well at almost any imaginable site at any time.” Resembling a cross between a high-tech UFO, a Weber grill, and a child’s toy, E.S.U.S. is comprised of several flexible components: tripod legs that can be lengthened or shortened according to the surface upon which it sits, a bright red fiberglass body that doubles as a floatation device, and a solar-powered lighting system. Utilizing the adaptability and portability of Westphalen’s cartoonish E.S.U.S., the piece appears at various locations throughout New York City including the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris, Tompkins Square Park, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.