Artists Plastique Fantastique Electrify New York’s High Line in Celebration of Bulgari’s Iconic Serpenti
The Berlin-based pair present stunning sculptural work above Little West 12th Street that coincides with the release of the maison’s new high-jewelry pieces
In September, visitors to New York’s High Line will be treated to a dazzling display courtesy of Bulgari and Plastique Fantastique, the Berlin-based pair of multidisciplinary artists known around the world for ephemeral spatial installations. Their stunning sculptural work for Bulgari, auruBOROS—Urban Memory and Collective Dream, sited above Little West 12th Street, coincided with the release of five of the maison’s new high-jewelry pieces—bijoux that reflect the emblematic Serpenti form and the dynamism of America.
What began in 1948 as a snake-like creature coiling around a gold bracelet-watch using the Tubogas technique has morphed into a highly articulated serpent, variously embellished with diamonds, vibrant gemstones, and more. It was Elizabeth Taylor who brought the sinuous Serpenti watch to international fame when she purchased one while filming Cleopatra in Rome in the 1960s. That singular acquisition helped raise Bulgari’s profile—and its collectible status—around the globe. The latest jewelry creations include one-of-a-kind masterpieces that pay homage to the artistic and architectural legacy of the U.S. while continuing to embrace Bulgari’s distinctly Roman heritage.
Timed to their debut is auruBOROS, the maison’s first public art installation in the Americas. The choice of Plastique Fantastique—comprising Marco Canevacci and Yena Young—makes perfect sense in light of the pair’s vast body of work. From conjuring massive bubble structures in Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands to realizing inflatable tunnels in Germany and Finland, the pair specializes in spaces designed for short-term exploration, many accented with light- and sound-infused elements. The duo delighted in their latest location, the High Line, where the fusion of grasses and natural elements is juxtaposed with the towering built environment. “We were fascinated by the elevated park, the bustling street below, the neighboring Standard Hotel, and the constant movement of people throughout the city,” says Canevacci.
The ouroboros concept—where a serpent is depicted eating its own tail in an endless coil—has been investigated by other artists for Bulgari in Shanghai, Seoul, and Mumbai, all in 2025. Part of Serpenti Infinito, the works are entries in the brand’s ongoing project to install art in various locales around the globe.
The title of Plastique Fantastique’s iteration merges aurum, the Latin word for “gold,” and the ancient serpent into an enormous shimmering swirl, inviting visitors to wander underneath and throughout—and to experience the infinite artistic possibility of New York. “auruBOROS had to feel monumental while feeling light and ephemeral,” explains Young of the mirrored structure filled with air. “The sculpture had to respond very precisely to the architecture, wind, circulation, and the special conditions of this specific site.” Its open loop shape, adds Canevacci, “symbolizes endless renewal and allows for unforeseen dynamics.”
Simultaneously, the five Serpenti high-jewelry masterpieces find inspiration in American art and architecture by embracing everything from Jackson Pollock’s signature drip painting technique to the Art Deco façades of Miami Beach. One of the strongest references is the Serpenti Flag necklace and matching bracelet, a nod to the celebrated artist Jasper Johns’s iconic American flag paintings. This bold interpretation includes a transfixing 18.75-carat, pear-shaped tanzanite as well as 17 sugar-loaf tanzanites, onyx, and brilliant pavé-set diamonds; the companion bracelet incorporates similar stones. The iconic spiral of New York’s Guggenheim Museum is evoked in the Serpenti Helix, an 18K-gold Tubogas choker enmeshed with a diamond-set serpent with a detachable 5.46-carat, pear-shaped Tanzanian spinel that hangs from its mouth for an added chromatic punch. Equally stunning are the Serpenti Ocean Deco necklace in 18K rose gold in the form of a coiling snake with a purplish pink, 17.89-carat, cushion-cut rubellite at its center, and the Serpenti Falling Drops necklace, which translates Pollock’s paint splatters into a wearable work of art.
Of course, these extraordinarily rare pieces can ultimately be experienced only by the few, which is quite the opposite of Plastique Fantastique’s creation. “When strangers gather around this golden structure, they briefly share the same image, the same space, and the same moment,” says Young. “If people left with a different view of the city, then the ephemeral installation continues on beyond its physical presence.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Late Fall Issue under the headline “Unexpected Twist” Subscribe to the magazine.