New Sculpture Unveiled At The Underline In Brickell: ‘Duality’

Brickell has a new permanent public art installation.

“Duality” was created by artist Hank Willis Thomas, depicting an arm and hand raising the “V” sign.

It was unveiled in a ceremony at The Underline’s Brickell Backyard last week.

Thomas is the same artist behind a sculpture recently unveiled in Boston called “The Embrace,” which has been controversial.

For an interview with the artist questioning the meaning of the new Brickell sculpture, click here.

 

68 Comments
most voted
newest oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Anonymous
12 days ago

This town needs more public sculptures.

Anonymous
12 days ago

Especially in the growing Brickell front west of here, which does not have any art/sculptures yet. Love this sculpture and meaning behind it 👏 ❤️ ✌️

Tony
12 days ago

This town needs to invest massively in art / culture. How many theaters again? Give more space to the young generation. Put more colors in the streets.

Anon
12 days ago

Agree. Happy to see this city investing in culture, future generations, and focusing on our public spaces!

Anonymous
12 days ago

And not Britto – keep that sh!t in South Beach

Anonbttm
12 days ago

ew no, we don’t want it either

Anonymous
12 days ago

Still better than most murals on parking garages.

Anonymous
11 days ago

Sad but true…actually extremely ridiculous

nonanon
11 days ago

We need more Botero sculptures.

Cosimo de Medici
11 days ago

Britto is good too..! Very colorful and happy, as a matter of fact a Britto sculpture would have been better than that drawing hand.

SFLX
12 days ago

We do need more fountains.

Se me paro'
12 days ago

That work

Anonymous
12 days ago

We have the huge one at Bayfront Park🙄

Anonymous
12 days ago

That’s not in Brickell but hope that gets fixed too. It would be nice to have large fountain with light show and music every hour, maybe in Southside Park

s.k
11 days ago

Unfortunately fountains become gardens. I guess HOAs and facilities eventually use the fountain maintenance for “other” purposes.

311
11 days ago

If it’s run by the city you can call 311 and let them know. Maybe the City isn’t aware and they just need to issue a repair ticket.

Anonymous
12 days ago

Peace y’all ✌️

Melo is sigma and Chad
12 days ago

midtown needs sculptures

Anonymous
12 days ago

In that large empty green grass land in the middle of it

Anon
11 days ago

I believe that will be a building as its private land, but the developer could take this into consideration. A central square may be nice

Anonymous
12 days ago

A “need” depends on what is the end goal.

If the objective is growth, quality of life, and long-term prosperity, we need art/fountains in certain gaps around Brickell and Miami, to be competitive with other growing Cities and neighborhoods. I came to this area, because of art initiatives like this one. For me and many, public art initiatives make a huge difference and bring people together!

Anonymous
12 days ago

I liked. The old V of peace and love, which is already enshrined and immortalized around the world, now solidified at Brickell.

Not Anonymous
12 days ago

Yeah, and i wonder what sculptures they’ll include now that phase 2 is almost done. Cant wait to bike from Coconut Grove to BCC!

Abel Myndid
12 days ago

Going to take visitors on bike tours to Vizcaya from Brickell when this is done!! Bring on the tours!!

✌️ 🌎
12 days ago

Duality! Two sides that come together as one. This brings new meaning to the peace sign. It’s what we need in humanity right now! Come together, whenever we see two sides, look for the hand 🤚 that connects them, and prosper.

Anonymous
12 days ago

Bring the bull to Brickell where it belongs.

Not Anonymous
12 days ago

Or replace it with a better sculpture

Anonymous
12 days ago

The new roundabout at 3rd Ave in Brickell should have a large sculpture too, something either very modern like an abstract palm or neoclassical Greco-Roman oversized bodice.

nonanon
11 days ago

A botero statue

Anonymous but Famous
11 days ago

Beats those brash insults recently installed in Lincoln Road.

MiMiami
11 days ago

So artsy

Anonymous
12 days ago

Ain’t my type of art, but I don’t dislike it.

s.k
11 days ago

I don’t like it either… at least we didn’t get the huge penis or caca like “The Embrace” in Boston.

Mkt Pro
11 days ago

LOCAL PUBLIC ART PROJECTS SHOULD BE BY LOCAL ARTISTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anon
11 days ago

There are! World art create a dialogue with other cities and brings in tourism and investment. Local art supports and showcases local economy. We can do both! So I agree in part and dissent in part.

Anonymous
11 days ago

Better keep an security on it. Missing fingers will change the meaning.

david k
7 days ago

Getting one of Thomas piece’s in Miami is a horrible way to mimic Boston’s worse impulses. His work in Boston has disgraced the city, spoiled the park, and created the monumental (no pun intend) task for future generations to figure out the best way to dispose of it.

Anonymous
12 days ago

They should use that money for the 3rd phase or maintenance.

Anonymous
12 days ago

I wouldn’t divert funds from continuously updating and reinvigorating this hub. They are working on phases 2 and 3 which will benefit from this destination. Remember to elect leaders who support projects like this and, if you can, donate to this park or any you want to see thrive. We can help this city blossom together.

Buck the Fills Juck the Fets Puck the Fatriots
12 days ago

Looks like what Cheetah will be throwin up all season long ✌🏾🐆

Art Moore
11 days ago

really?….It’s boring

Anonymous
12 days ago

He wants two hot dogs.

Luis
12 days ago

This is an honest comment

Anon
12 days ago

Underline? More like underwhelming. The portions in Brickell could have been so much more…

Overwhelmed with Joy!
12 days ago

It’s the most promising public space in the Miami core and helping to expand public improvements to all surrounding blocks in Brickell and new neighborhoods in Miami.

Market Urbanist
11 days ago

Agree. And the YouFit color scheme is awful.

Jake
11 days ago

It’s my favorite part of Brickell

Anonymous
12 days ago

The fountain at the east end of Flagler huge eye sore and missed opportunity by the city

Nope
12 days ago

This is the middle finger in England 😂

Luis
11 days ago

Interesting initiative, but in all the “artistic” way to explain his piece I didn’t get clearly what duality wanted to show.
Inevitably came to my mind some examples of dualities: Baccarat Building / Homeless people under 95 – Bright New Buildings/Complete rudeness of mostly tenants that live there. Etc.
I saw the sculpture surrounded by that horrible intent of landscaping with that horrendous red mulch and just laughed.
Looks improvised, finished rushing, someone heard it was chic to have pieces of art on the streets and decided to spent money in something to make a photo op.
How many people will actually look at it and try to go an inch deep in the meaning besides the funny “2 pizzas” or so?
I read people talking about South Beach like not “tasteful” and remind me when I live in Boca, how the residents of Palm Beach were completely disgusted and how outrageous considered a proyect for a boulevard that will make it end looking like Brickell!! Lol (old money people clutching their pearls).
Yes but the sculpture means peace and happiness and love right??

Keep trying.

Hear Me Out
11 days ago

One art work may speak to someone more than another artwork does, but we can’t ban all artwork because a few people don’t get it. If that happens, we are in trouble.

Public art offers numerous benefits and is far from being a waste. It enhances the aesthetics of a city or community, celebrating local culture and fostering social cohesion. By transforming spaces and creating landmarks, it contributes to the identity of a place, inspires education and creativity, and improves psychological well-being. Additionally, public art has economic advantages, attracting tourists, supporting local businesses, and revitalizing neighborhoods.

Overall, public art is an investment that enriches communities, enhances quality of life, and leaves a lasting positive impact.

Market Urbanist
11 days ago

Yeah, this sculpture does none of that.

OOP
12 days ago

MIAMI DADE needs more sculptures of iconic people that have had an influence in our community not post modern strange sculptures likes this one

Anonymous
11 days ago

There’s a Tequesta statue at the Brickell Bridge and lots of statues like this.

Market Urbanist
11 days ago

Agree, its lame and nobody will care.

Pete
11 days ago

I like universal sculptures like this. Honors it have it in our city

Anonymous
12 days ago

Who paid for this bullcrap? Hope it’s not the taxpayers.

Anonymous
12 days ago

As a taxpayer, I have to pay for a lot of things that don’t directly benefit me, like fruit tree giveaways to homeowners, bus stops or schools but I gladly buy into this social contract to be a part of a community that is nice for everyone, and works for ALL people. If you don’t like being in a community for all people, I suggest moving to a wooded area, not in a city because any city will be investing in itself and it’s public areas ☮️

Anon
12 days ago

Schools are important. Fruit trees give off fruit to eat. This is horseshit.

Juan
11 days ago

Art lifts up the mental state of our community and brings tourism and investment that pays for those fruit trees and schools.

Anonymous
11 days ago

Art Fart, Juan

Market Urbanist
11 days ago

This sculpture will do none of that.

Anonymous
11 days ago

Why the negative opinion? It’s beautiful and my friends think all said it’s cool.

Anon
11 days ago

Of course they are important. Art and appearances are too.

Market Urbanist
11 days ago

Facts.

No Más!
10 days ago

Should taxpayers be paying for Joe Carollo’s lawyers for court case going on? We just paid 2 million dollars to his lawyers!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ay dios mio!!! That could be 100 or more sculpture for Miami. How can de be?

Anonymous
12 days ago

A plaque in front will read “Guys, remember to get your prostates checked”.

Anonymous
12 days ago

I can sculpt duality using my balls. Nice sculpture Hank