Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk

Artwork History

This 332-foot long, ten-foot tall cast-concrete sculpture wall by artist Toshio Sasaki (1946-2007) was installed on the boardwalk outside the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation in 1992, and is the artist’s first major public commission.

Facing the beach, the free-standing wall features terrazzo and ceramic shapes with motifs of ocean waves, fishes, and zygotes. As the viewer travels the length of the piece, the images become more and more primitive, suggesting the evolution of marine life. The four-ton piece was sponsored by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program, and was installed to celebrate the Aquarium’s then-new Sea Cliffs Exhibition, which features a state-of-the-art marine mammal habitat. The work won an Art Commission Award for Excellence in Design in 1992.

Updated Apr 04, 2007

Artwork Details