11 Murals for Low-Income Housing Retirement Home (Albany, NY)

Eleven Murals for Royce-on-the-park, Albany, NY

Curated by Marius Muresanu, this series was commissioned by a New York-based developer who specializes in low-income housing. The project was part of a redevelopment of a bleak 1960s retirement home with the objective of engaging residents with immersive wall art as they exit the elevator landing on each residential floor, thus leaving a positive imprint on their daily lives. Henrik Langsdorf was present during the installation and, since he did not identify himself as the artist, was able to get first hand impressions from residents as the work was put up. “The reactions were overwhelmingly positive”, Langsdorf says. “However”, he notes, “some were concerned that prices might go up in this facility due to the sweeping renovation and makeover. While this is of course not the case, some sensed that the decidedly upscale atmosphere the renovation cum art lends the place, was too good to be true to not come at a premium”. It serves as a reminder that the positive impact of art in public space as intended here can still be read in multiple ways.

untitled [a0008]. Part of a series of eleven murals for “Royce on the Park”, a retirement home in Albany, NY