Technicolor pool

Asylum, the swimming pool painted by HotTea on New York’s Roosevelt Island, is inspired by his color field installations that take up both private and public spaces. 

“I love introducing color to spaces that seem neglected or forgotten.” Explains the artist. “When people experience my installations I hope that they will remember the experience far after the moment is gone.  My goal is to evoke subconscious feelings one may have forgotten when viewing my work.
I titled this piece Asylum because creating it pushed my mental and physical endurance so far I wasn’t sure I could complete the task. Roosevelt Island was also home to the Metropolitan Asylum and a community inspired by utopia.

After the asylums were closed utopia was created to try to bring new residents to the island. The island is within view from Manhattan but not many visit. Conceptually in the past, it was a place where individuals who couldn’t function in ‘normal’ society were placed.  This installation viewed with Manhattan in the background does not blend it. It is different from its surroundings and this idea intrigued me knowing Roosevelt Islands past life.  Does being different than others mean we should be isolated? Maybe... But then life would just be grey.”