Introduction

Tucked into a quiet forest park on Chongming Island, Chongming frames a view of a canal and a small alluvial landform that mirrors the island itself. This lens reflects the constant interplay of land and water, inviting viewers to contemplate the delicate balance of nature and the forces that shape it.

Site & Placement

The lens is hidden along a forest path, directing attention to the canal’s subtle currents and the land it divides. The bench, situated 12 feet from the lens, encourages visitors to pause and immerse themselves in the tranquil rhythm of the scene.

Impermanence & Integration

As an alluvial island shaped by shifting waters, Chongming is a fitting location for this ephemeral lens. Constructed from branches, the lens will eventually return to the land, echoing the natural processes that formed the island and continue to shape it.

Reflection

Chongming offers a meditative space to reflect on the impermanence of land and the forces that transform it. The work’s fleeting existence underscores the beauty of change, inviting viewers to appreciate the subtle, ongoing dance of nature.

Photos

More from the 'Earth Lens' Series:

Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works

"Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)

"Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)

"Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)

"Platte" (Earth Lens 004)

"Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)

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All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.

Introduction

Situated on Myanmar’s Grandfather Beach, this lens captures the dramatic shape of a steep, rocky hill that mirrors the arduous road leading to this remote location. Grandfather invites viewers to reflect on the connection between journey and destination, highlighting the tension and beauty of paths less traveled.

Site & Placement

The lens is positioned at the west end of the beach, focusing on the sharp hill rising above the shoreline. Its teardrop shape accentuates the rocky prominence, emphasizing its similarity to the road that winds toward the beach. A bench, placed 12 feet away, provides a place for viewers to absorb the rugged beauty of the scene.

Impermanence & Integration

Crafted from driftwood, branches, and stone, Grandfather is a fleeting presence in this timeless landscape. Its brief existence reflects the challenges and ephemerality of the journey it highlights, blending into the environment as it gradually succumbs to the elements.

Reflection

Grandfather invites viewers to consider the parallels between the physical journey to reach the beach and life’s broader paths. It stands as a reminder that even the most challenging routes can lead to moments of profound beauty.

Photos

More from the 'Earth Lens' Series:

Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works

"Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)

"Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)

"Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)

"Platte" (Earth Lens 004)

COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)

More from Hes

Portfolio

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Artist Statements

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Tech

All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.

Introduction

Platte captures a tranquil bend of the South Platte River, where the steady flow of water meets the rugged backdrop of Waterton Canyon. This lens offers a moment of respite, encouraging visitors to step away from the river’s busy recreational activities and focus on the quiet beauty of this secluded scene.

Site & Placement

Positioned on the west bank of the South Platte River, the lens directs attention to the water’s gentle curves and the canyon rising in the background. A bench placed 12 feet away provides the perfect spot for reflection, emphasizing the interplay of movement and stillness in the landscape.

Impermanence & Integration

The lens, constructed from branches and stone, mirrors the ever-changing nature of the river itself. As it stands, it frames a single moment within the flow of time, but its materials will soon be reclaimed by the earth, echoing the river’s constant reshaping of the land.

Reflection

Platte invites viewers to contemplate the river’s journey—its constancy in motion and its quiet persistence. The work becomes a metaphor for life’s flow, urging us to find beauty in the transient and the enduring alike.

Photos

More from the 'Earth Lens' Series:

Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works

"Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)

"Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)

"Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)

COMING SOON: "Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)

COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)

More from Hes

Portfolio

Online Store

Artist Statements

Travel Guides

Photography

Money

Tech

All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.

Introduction

Sanctuary offers a layered view of resilience, juxtaposing the green expanses of the Sanctuary Golf Course with the majesty of Pikes Peak and the scars of past destruction. Framed by the lens, this work explores the tension between human intervention and nature’s cycles of renewal.

Site & Placement

Perched at Daniels Park in Castle Pines, the lens focuses on the rolling terrain of the golf course, leading the eye to the distant peak. The surrounding brush, which once burned in a major fire, adds depth to the narrative of renewal. A bench, positioned for an unobstructed view, invites visitors to sit and reflect on the land’s capacity to heal and endure.

Impermanence & Integration

As an ephemeral installation, Sanctuary embodies nature’s cycles of destruction and rebirth. The materials—branches and rock—will eventually decay and return to the earth, a process that mirrors the recovery of the landscape itself after fire. This impermanence underscores the delicate balance between human influence and natural forces.

Reflection

Sanctuary serves as a reminder of both the fragility and resilience of the world around us. It invites viewers to pause and consider the interplay of destruction and growth, human and natural, as they gaze upon a scene shaped by both time and transformation

Photos

More from the 'Earth Lens' Series:

Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works

"Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)

"Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)

COMING SOON: "Platte" (Earth Lens 004)

COMING SOON: "Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)

COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)

More from Hes

Portfolio

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Artist Statements

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Writings

All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.

Introduction

From atop Flagstaff Mountain, Folsom frames Boulder’s iconic Folsom Field, a symbol of youth, learning, and community. This lens offers a moment of reflection on the brevity of the college experience and the transient nature of life, inviting viewers to connect with the campus and its fleeting but impactful moments.

Site & Placement

The lens is strategically placed to frame the stadium, blending the vibrant life of the campus with Boulder’s vast and enduring natural landscape. The bench, situated 6 feet from the lens, offers a space to sit and contemplate the juxtaposition of permanence and change, of structure and wilderness.

Impermanence & Integration

Constructed from branches and rock, Folsom is designed to fade into the mountain landscape after only a short time. Its impermanence echoes the fleeting nature of the college years, reminding viewers that growth and transformation are rooted in moments that pass all too quickly.

Reflection

Through its brief presence, Folsom captures the delicate interplay between human experiences and the enduring landscapes that frame them. It invites viewers to celebrate the vibrant present while acknowledging the inevitability of change.

Photos

More from the 'Earth Lens' Series:

Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works

"Looking Glass" (Earth Lens 001)

COMING SOON: "Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)

COMING SOON: "Platte" (Earth Lens 004)

COMING SOON: "Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)

COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)

More from Hes

Portfolio

Online Store

Artist Statements

Travel Guides

Photography

Writings

All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.

Introduction

Nestled deep in the forest near Boulder, "Looking Glass" invites viewers to rediscover the quiet beauty of overlooked natural details. By framing the play of light, texture, and shadow through a 4-foot circular lens, the piece shifts focus to the microcosms of the forest, drawing attention to a small and overlooked waterfall.

Site & Placement

The lens is perched amid a cluster of trees, emphasizing a quiet patch of the forest that often goes unnoticed. Positioned 22 feet from the lens, a carefully placed bench offers a perfect vantage point, guiding visitors to linger, observe, and absorb the layered simplicity of the scene.

Impermanence & Integration

True to the ethos of the Earth Lens series, Looking Glass exists only briefly. Its natural materials—branches, wood, and rock—blend seamlessly into the forest and will eventually be reclaimed by it. The fleeting presence of the lens reflects the transient beauty of life, encouraging viewers to appreciate the details that often escape notice in the rush of time.

Reflection

In its short life, Looking Glass offers a moment of stillness and clarity, a chance to peer into the intimate world of the forest. The work becomes a lens not just for the environment but also for introspection, reminding viewers of the quiet wonders that surround them every day.

Photos

More from the 'Earth Lens' Series:

Earth Lens Series: Artist Statement + List of Works

COMING SOON: "Folsom" (Earth Lens 002)

COMING SOON: "Sanctuary" (Earth Lens 003)

COMING SOON: "Platte" (Earth Lens 004)

COMING SOON: "Grandfather" (Earth Lens 005)

COMING SOON: "Chongming" (Earth Lens 006)

More from Hes

Art

Store

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All images are credit of Hes, but you are free to download and use for any purpose. If you find joy from my art, please feel free to send a zap. Enjoy life on a Bitcoin standard.

The Earth Lens series is a harmonious fusion of art and nature, inviting unknowing viewers to step beyond the ordinary and immerse themselves in the lost intricacies of the surrounding landscape. These interactive earthworks serve as portals to the natural world, drawing us into a deeper connection with land around us; while forcing us to consider the impermanence of the world around.

Each unique Earth Lens is meticulously crafted and placed with an eye for perspective. The choice of location is deliberate, aligning with a prominent or unique feature of the land chosen to highlight. Whether perched atop a hill, nestled within a forest, or overlooking a serene lake, every lens captures a unique viewpoint. The curvature of the frame guides our gaze, emphasizing certain elements—a distant mountain peak, a winding river, or a cluster of wildflowers.

Accompanying each Earth Lens lies a small bench, providing the viewer with an invitation to linger. Positioned precisely where the lens frames its most captivating view, the bench beckons viewers to sit and absorb the work. Take a seat, and time slows down.

Where did this work came from? How long it has been standing? Who built it? The bench becomes a vessel for contemplation, a place to savor the beauty before us and question the permanence of time.

As the sun traverses the sky, Earth Lenses orchestrate a symphony of light. Through this interplay, we discover that art and nature are not separate entities but interconnected threads in the grand tapestry of existence. In the quietude of an Earth Lens, we rediscover wonder. These humble yet profound installations remind us that beauty lies not only in the grand vistas but also in the delicate details—the curve of a petal, the ripple on water, the whisper of wind through grass. So, take a seat, peer through the lens, and let the Earth reveal its magic.

Impermanence

As an artist, I am drawn to the ephemeral nature of the natural world and the impermanence of the structures that inhabit it. My Earth Lens series is a reflection of this fascination, as each installation is intentionally designed to be temporary, existing for only a brief period of time before being reclaimed by the natural world.

This impermanence is a deliberate choice, as I believe it allows the work to become an integral part of the landscape itself, rather than simply a static monument. By placing the lenses in unique and dynamic locations, I aim to create a sense of continuity and connection between the art and the environment, even as the art itself is in a state of flux. In this sense, the Earth Lens series is not a fixed or static entity, but rather a dynamic and evolving process.

It is a reminder that beauty and meaning are not fixed, but rather are constantly being reinterpreted and recontextualized. By embracing the impermanence of the natural world, and the impermanence of the art itself, I hope to create a sense of wonder and awe, and to inspire viewers to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty that's all around us, even as it's constantly changing.

List of works in the series:

001- 'Looking Glass'. Boulder, USA [2016]

002- 'Folsom'. Boulder, USA [2016]

003- 'Sanctuary'. Castle Pines, USA [2016]

004- 'Platte'. Littleton, USA. [2017]

005- 'Grandfather'. Dawei, Myanmar [2020]

006- 'Chongming'. Shanghai, China [2021]

Originally published in 2016 by Hes.

Republished to habla.news/u/hes@nostrplebs.com on 11/27/2024 with slight edits.

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