Trunks on the Pier

edited by Sheila Kim-Jamet -- Interior Design, 2/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Gregory Colbert's elephants have been to Venice. Now they're headed to New York, in high style. The documentary filmmaker turned photographer's "Ashes and Snow" sets up camp on Pier 54 in architect Shigeru Ban's temporary Nomadic Museum. The exhibit—which includes a one-hour film and overscale Japanese-paper photos taken on Colbert's expeditions to Africa and Antarctica—explores the relationship between humans and animals, specifically elephants, in natural environments.

Ban's 45,000-square-foot structure follows in step with the nature theme. He employs bamboo-like paper tubes as roof trusses and columns and pairs them with 148 shipping containers. Sri Lankan teabag papers form canopies, and cardboard stools provide seating for the movie. The next stop for the traveling museum and exhibit is Santa Monica, California. March 5–June 6; 866-905-9552; ashesandsnow.org.