In a striking display of unity and purpose, French-Swiss artist Saype created a monumental land art piece in New York City over Mother’s Day weekend, May 9–11, 2025. The 530-square-meter artwork was painted directly onto a barge that sailed through the heart of the city, passing iconic landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.
Crafted with biodegradable pigments made from charcoal and chalk, the ephemeral artwork marked the official launch of AddressHate, an initiative of the Laterman Family Foundation aimed at combating online discrimination and reclaiming shared digital space for imagination and empathy.
The floating installation was visible from Manhattan’s Pier 57 Rooftop Park and Little Island’s Vista Point, where New Yorkers and visitors gathered to witness Saype’s message of unity and hope. “This project is a step toward a new alliance between creativity and responsibility,” Saype said. “Art can offer the space to breathe again — and to believe in something common.”
Saype, known for his large-scale biodegradable artworks addressing environmental, humanist, and social issues, was a natural collaborator for AddressHate. His past works have gone viral worldwide, resonating as powerful visual symbols of connection and collective responsibility—values at the core of the foundation’s mission.
Park Pictures, which previously worked with Saype on Lavazza’s annual calendar photographed by director Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki, managed production for this latest project. Their team coordinated scouting, permitting, and logistics to bring the ambitious vision to life on the waters of the Hudson River.