Valentine's Day 'kissing booths' come to New York's Times Square

On reflection … time for a kiss? Artist’s impression of how Collective-LOK’s installation will look

(THE GUARDIAN) One of the most iconic photos ever taken inNew Yorkis The Kiss, capturing the moment a sailor kisses a nurse in Times Square during the V-J Day celebrations on August 14, 1945.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, snogging in Times Square is about to be honoured – encouraged even – once more, with the installation of kissing booths in the tourist-packed area in Midtown Manhattan.

Created by local designers atCollective–LOK, the “Heart of Hearts” installation will be a ring of nine 10ft-high hearts . And inside each heart, diamond-shaped spaces form “kissing booths” for enamoured couples.

The Kiss. Photograph: Alfred Eisenstaedt/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

TheTimes Square Alliancehas run a competition to find romantic public art installations for the square for the past eight years and this design was chosen as the winner.

The golden, mirrored hearts will simultaneously reflect the couples within it and the square around it, creating a “kaleidoscopic interior that dissolves the boundaries between viewing and performing”.

According to the designers: “Times Square is the heart of New York City – a blur of bright lights and billboards, noise, steam, passion and possibilities …

Artist’s impression, courtesy of Collective-LOK

“It is spectacle made manifest, day and night. For Valentine’s Day we offer the Heart of Hearts, a space for both intimacy and performance within this spectacular atmosphere.”

The installation will be unveiled on 9 February and remain on view until 6 March.