Elizabeth Jaeger’s "Rail (Flaco)" (2024) is a poignant ceramic and bronze sculpture inspired by the true story of Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl who captivated New Yorkers with his daring escape from the Central Park Zoo in February 2023. After evading recapture, Flaco adapted to urban life, becoming a symbol of freedom and resilience until his untimely death in February 2024.

The sculpture portrays Flaco perched on a railing, capturing his vigilant and enigmatic presence. Initially displayed at Capsule in Shanghai, the piece overlooked a tranquil garden, enveloped in an aura of mystery. Relocated to Capsule’s pop-up space at Hong Kong’s Hilltop Plaza, the installation now faces one of the city’s busiest streets, visible even from the thoroughfare. This strategic positioning enhances the themes of observation and being observed, inviting passersby to reflect on the transient nature of freedom and the profound connections between urban wildlife and city inhabitants.

Jaeger’s work not only commemorates Flaco’s legacy but also prompts dialogue about the challenges faced by urban wildlife, encouraging viewers to contemplate the delicate balance between nature and the built environment.

Elizabeth Jaeger (1988, San Francisco) lives and works in New York. Jaeger’s dissonant yet poetic sculptures inhabit the space in between ontological categories –– her subtle visual inflections resist definition and embrace the rich mystery and murkiness of our shared reality. Recent solo exhibitions include: Capsule Shanghai, Shanghai; Mennour, Paris and Klemm’s, Berlin. Her work has been included in group shows at Whitney Museum, New York; Museum Sprengel, Hannover; MoMA Ps1, New York; Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen; Aspen Art Museum, Aspen; Callie’s, Berlin; White Space, Beijing; Lisson Gallery, New York; Sculpture Center, New York; Capsule Venice, Venice; Silke Lindner, New York; Winter Street Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard; and Clima, Milan.