Rendered images of Whale #2 (top) and Waterfall-NYC (bottom), 2021 Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery  © 2021. a'strict. All rights reserved. Artist: a'strict (에이스트릭트) Exhibition Dates: July 16, 2021 – August 2, 2021 Venue: Times Square, New York, USA The Korean media artist unit a'strict will showcase two site-specific art installations in New York City’s Times Square from July 16 through August 2, 2021. The first work, titled Whale #2 (2021), will be screened daily once every hour and half-hour on the dot from 12PM to 12AM EDT for one minute from July 16 through July 27, 2021. The second work, titled Waterfall-NYC (2021), will be screened once every hour on the dot for one minute from July 27 through August 2, 2021. Illuminating the pedestrian plaza at the center of the iconic Times Square, Whale #2 occupies a 1,400㎡-large screen that transforms the electronic display board into a hyperrealistic, undulating ocean environment occupied by a massive blue whale. Waterfall-NYC is installed on the exterior of One Times Square, using four vertical screens for a total height of 102.5 meters. The commanding cascade of water creates a compelling and overpowering presence amidst the city’s iconic red brick buildings and steel-framed architecture. These two monumental pieces of public art signal a'strict’s debut in the United States, highlighting the power of public art to transcend national borders in the age of a worldwide pandemic. In the thick of a hot New York summer, these digital depictions of water are sure to capture the attention of and serve as a moment of repose for pedestrians who flock to this famous tourist destination, effectively serving as a global statement both in and outside of the art world for a'strict. With a heightened commitment to the social functions of art since their solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery in 2020, a'strict’s upcoming project at Times Square frames its objective to create spaces for rest and relaxation to a wide global audience. Powerfully evoking the subject of nature in an otherwise urban environment filled with towering skyscrapers, a'strict explores the boundless possibilities of technology within the field of contemporary art to fundamentally reframe the world-famous landmark; at the crux of art, culture, and commerce, the project utilizes innovative digital technology to generate a landscape that blends art into life through unprecedented scale and perceptual effects.