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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Artist Statements

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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

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

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.

For the first installment, I’m diving into npub.pro, an incredible service that lets anyone on Nostr create a fully functional website using their already-published notes.

What is npub.pro?

npub.pro is a simple—yet powerful— tool that takes your Nostr content and turns it into a website instantly. By filtering through hashtags or keywords, or hand-selecting which notes to feature, you can curate what appears on your site.

This allows for highly customizable and dynamic websites that anyone on Nostr can deploy. Whether you’re a blogger, photographer, journalist, artist—or just want to organize your notes into a cleanly setup website—this service opens up endless possibilities for showcasing your notes.

Who Should Use npub.pro?

This service is ideal for:

✅ Writers and bloggers who want a frictionless way to publish content.

✅ Artists and photographers looking to showcase their work.

✅ Journalists and researchers who need an easy way to organize articles.

✅ Anyone who wants a personal website without dealing with hosting or technical setups.

Why I Love npub.pro

I’ve personally deployed several websites using npub.pro, each serving a different purpose:

HesArt – My personal art portfolio.

Hes – My main long-form writing site, featuring artist statements, travel guides, photo series, tech reviews, and economic essays.

HesCooks – A collection of curated recipes.

HesCreates – A categorized and searchable archive of my notes.

The ability to filter my Nostr content and instantly publish it as a website has made organizing my notes seamless and efficient. The opportunities are endless and I have several ideas for other websites I plan on deploying.

How to Get Started

1.Visit npub.pro.

2.Enter your Nostr private key (nsec) using an extension of bunker.

3.Choose your filters (hashtags, keywords, etc.) to curate what appears and select a pre-made theme.

4.Publish instantly – no extra setup needed!

It’s that simple.

Final Verdict:

5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

npub.pro is an outstanding tool that makes publishing on the web effortless for Nostr users. It’s intuitive, versatile, and packed with potential use cases. Whether you need a blog, portfolio, or curated archive, this app delivers.

Highly recommended!

More from Hes

Full Portfolio

Online Store

Artist Statements

Travel Guides

Photography

Writings

Note: This spotlight is not sponsored. I thoroughly enjoy the service and have received outstanding customer service from the team at npub.pro!

Stay tuned for more Nostr App Spotlights as I explore the best apps in the ecosystem!

Photos in Order:

26. Nanjing

27. Nanshan

28. Nijo

29. Norodom

30. Oldtown

31. Qiaolou

32. Qibao

33. Qingcheng

34. Royal

35. Shwedagon

36. Taiping

37. Tenryu

38. Thatbyinnyu

39. Tianxuan

40. Twins

41. Wuzhu

42. Xinanjiang

43. Xingbake

44. Xuanbi

45. Yehliu

46. Yueya

47. Yunyan

48. Yuyuan

49. Zhonggong

50. Zhouzhuang

View Part 1:

Structural Reflections 1-26

Other Works:

Earth Lens Series

Rockway

Нет войне

Find me elsewhere:

Website

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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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Photos in Order:

1. Angkor

2. Anren

3. Arun

4. Asadha

5. Baima

6. Baita

7. Baiyuan

8. Bayon

9. Ciguang

10. Datang

11. Dazhao

12. Fanjing

13. Groslier

14. Guyi

15. Gyeongbokgung

16. Higashi

17. Hongya

18. Huanghe

19. Independence

20. Kiyomizu I

21. Kiyomizu II

22. Kyauk

23. Leifang

24. Longhua

25. Manhua

View Part 2:

Structural Reflections 26-50

Other Works:

Earth Lens Series

Rockway

Нет войне

Find me elsewhere:

Website

Store