DRIFT, the artist duo consisting of Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn, is set to stage its famed drone performance, Franchise Freedom, in New York City's Central Park. This grand-scale spectacle will feature 1,000 drones lighting up the Manhattan sky, making it their most extensive presentation to date. This awe-inspiring performance is set to occur over the Lake at Central Park on October 21, with three stagings at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. Accompanying the visual spectacle, there will be a simultaneous livestream with a musical performance by Joep Beving.
Franchise Freedom, a project that debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2017, has only been staged a few times due to its intricate nature. Each staging is unique, as it requires adapting the performance to suit each new venue. This upcoming Central Park performance has been a long-time dream for DRIFT, having been in the works for five years due to strict restrictions around drone flights in New York City. However, Mayor Eric Adams recently announced a new permitting process for drone use in the city, marking the culmination of years of advocacy by the artists.
The artists, known for their drone performances that blur the lines between machines and organic entities, emphasize the universal message of their work. Franchise Freedom serves as a representation of nature's swarm behavior, conveying the importance of unity and cooperation in a world constantly evolving. The Central Park performance represents a significant milestone in their artistic journey, with the aim of bringing people together to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of a thousand drones illuminating the night sky.
