FreelandBuck's Tunnel Vision public art piece is a massive metal installation with a surprise vantage point at the WMATA Office in DC.

If you audibly gasp the next time you?re at the Washington Metro Area Transit Agency (WMATA) Office Building in DC, you?re probably peering up at Tunnel Vision, a new site-specific public art installation by architecture firm FreelandBuck. Situated in the southwest corner of the building?s lobby, the massive canopy, which measures 10 feet high by 14 feet in diameter, beckons visitors to take a closer look at its puzzling exterior for an unexpected unveiling at the perfect moment.

Tunnel Vision is made of laser-cut aluminum layers sculpted into cones. The conical form’s gridded pattern allows light to flow into the lobby and onto the ceiling. From the outside looking in, the installation appears peculiar, like something you would see in outer space ? a flying craft going at warp speed, perhaps. However, at a specific vantage point, the audible gasp you might make comes from the dramatic reveal of the iconic coffered subway stations by American architect Harry Reese in a striking 3D form.
The photo was digitally printed onto the metal and is reminiscent of the Baroque technique of employing the troupe l?oeil illusion typically seen on church ceilings. This tricks the eye into seeing depth where there is none and is part of FreelandBuck?s exploration of spatial drawings. On display for everyone to experience, Tunnel Vision e...