Internationally acclaimed artist and architect Paul Raff unveils permanent sculpture at Underpass Park's opening in Toronto
One of Toronto's most innovative urban parks, Underpass Park, was opened last week. The park is made up of a two and a half acre mixed-use space tucked beneath the Eastern Avenue ramps. Underpass Park, the most extensive park built under an overpass in Canada, was designed by Vancouver-based landscape architects Phillips. The Toronto-based artist and architect Paul Raff was onsite to unveil his creation, Mirage, which is the park's new permanent public artwork.
Suspended overhead of pedestrians, large scale mirror-like surfaces create an illusory appearance. The panels bend light rays to produce a displaced image, much like a mirage. Mirage is made up of 57 reflective polished stainless steel panels fastened to the underside of the overpass. Art and architecture critic John Bentley Mays details: "The result [is] a shifting of semi-abstract imagery gathering from earth and sky, from darkness and light, all of it hovering like a shining cloud over the heads of passersby."
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