Bloody Installation at the Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's latest installation piece mixes images and feelings, conjuring a bloody crime scene at first glance.

Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi, known for combining Islamic art influences with modern conceptual approaches, was commissioned to create the work, which covers the roof of the museum and is viewable from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. According to the Met, "the project represents the artist's emotional response to violence occurring across the globe in recent decades and his earnest hope for regeneration and lasting peace in the aftermath of man-made disasters."

The work, created from spilled and splattered red acrylic paint, covers nearly 8,000 square feet and is painted into crimson images of leaves that recall both Middle Eastern courts and nearby Central Park. Visitors can walk directly on the art as they view it.

"The dialogue between life and death is an important element in my work," Qureshi said in a statement. "The red reminds me of the situation today in my country, Pakistan, and in the world around us, where violence is almost a daily occurrence. But somehow, people still have hope. The flowers that seem to emerge from the red paint in my work represent the hope that - despite everything - the people sustain somehow, their hope for a better future."

The exhibition runs through November 3 and is open daily, weather permitting.