Thread by @hypnolysis

Two years before 9/11 the MTA installed an elaborate mosaic artwork throughout the #WTC subway station complex. It’s called Oculus and consists of 1 large mosaic of an all seeing eye as well as 300 smaller eye mosaics spread around the complex. #NineEleven

The large central piece consists of more than 1.8 million hand cut pieces depicting the all-seeing eye at the center of a flat map of the earth overlayed onto NYC. Although much of the work was flooded and damaged in the destruction of 9/11, most of it survived and is still there

Maybe the creepiest thing about this is the fact that the 300 eye mosaics are based directly on photos the artists took of NYC schoolchildren. There’s a sick symbolism in forcing the eyes of innocence to witness one of the most horrific crimes in modern history #September11th

Strangely enough, the new 4 billion dollar transportation hub that was built over the portion of the mosaic installation at #GroundZero is also called Oculus and clearly resembles an eye with huge lashes.

Although the architect has several other eye themed designs, he says this structure is supposed to be symbolic of a hand releasing a dove. At street level it looks more like the skeleton of a Chitauri Leviathan that destroyed NYC in the first Avengers movie.

It is in alignment with the sun’s solar angles on each September 11, from 8:46 am, when the first “plane” struck, until 10:28 am, when the second tower collapsed. Its central skylight fits this alignment and washes the Oculus floor with a beam of light.