Xu Bing, The Living Word

Xu Bing's installation for the Morgan's glass-enclosed Gilbert Court is his third iteration of this piece and the first to be shown in New York. Consistent with this Chinese artist's exploration of language, the work consists of 400 pieces of acrylic sheeting, each laser-cut into the form of the Chinese character for "bird." These letters seem to literally take flight in a flock rising from floor to ceiling, with the help of monofilament strands suspending them à la Peter Pan.