The Vessel is utterly unenjoyable. It is not just a mistake, it is a premeditated assault on what is left of mankind’s redeeming values. It is not just lifeless, it is life taking.
To quote Bloomberg, “The mega-luxury of this mini-Dubai was financed in part through a program that was supposed to help alleviate urban poverty.”
The Vessel is Stalinist in nature. All good and decent people will cheer when it is pulled to the ground and spat upon like a Saddam Hussein statue being pulled to the ground and spat upon by good and decent people.
No joy is given or created by the building of this conspicuous display of wealth by the uber-wealthy.
Instead, those of us who are sub-billionaires have to squint and try to get our heads around why someone with $200 million burning a hole in their pocket decided to give back to the community by creating an eyesore that doubles as an invitation to suicide.
As of this writing, The Vessel has aided and abetted at least 4 people in their successful attempts at committing suicide.
Could there be any worse art?
Art is supposed to inspire, to heal, to celebrate humanity and encourage creativity. It is easy to imagine wanting one’s money back after seeing a bad movie. As an artefact, The Vessel makes people think that life is nothing but pain and agony, and it is better to end it ASAP.
Visiting a $200 million staircase to nowhere is a justifiable way to spend an afternoon?
When it first opened, people were paying $15 for the privilege of climbing The Vessel. Fifteen bucks to climb a half dozen stories of stairs, walk around in a circle, then bring it on home. At least you padded the stats on your Apple watch or Fitbit.
Matt Shaw, a New York-based architecture author, editor and curator who teaches around the country had this to say about The Vessel in dezeen:
https://www.dezeen.com/2023/08/03/vessel-thomas-heatherwick-new-york-matt-shaw-opinion/
“An object with no function, the Vessel gives nothing back to the city – it only extracts from it. No wonder the public similarly cares little about it. No one cares about the Vessel because no one asked for it.”
Why not just walk into a high-rise, any will do, and pull the fire alarm?
Everyone exiting via the staircases will have the same experience as those visiting the Vessel. Maybe have local graffiti artists to paint murals in the stairwells so that those evacuating can take in some culture in a safe, responsible way?
And, of course, the horrendous disaster that is The Vessel is exclusive: only able-bodied people can climb it.
The United States Department of Justice filed a complaint alleging that because of the number of separate landings within Vessel, most of the structure was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act!
Those who use a wheelchair to get around will have to wheel off the edge of a subway platform and hope for the worst. But then again, The Vessel IS the worst.
How privileged and self-involved does one have to be to choose to climb stairs and walk around in circles for entertainment?
The Vessel is so stupid that it would fit perfectly into the movie Spinal Tap. But then The Vessel would actually serve a useful purpose, and the joke might be lost.
The Vessel is un-American.
The Vessel is un-American and inhuman. It belongs in London, some Old World country, or maybe a place like Zaire. Mobutu Sese Seko would surely love it. Of course it was designed by a British designer (Thomas Heatherwick),
Imagine something better. Demand something better.
Just imagine if the people responsible for The Vessel were a bit more like Andrew Carnegie. Just fucking imagine.
AI summary of this post:
The Vessel, a structure in New York, is strongly criticized for its lack of purpose, joy, and accessibility. It is deemed as a display of wealth and privilege, contributing nothing positive to the city. Its exclusive nature and non-compliance with laws make it an un-American symbol, prompting a call for better alternatives and social responsibility.
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