Berlin Artist Residency
2010 |
Artist Statement
For six weeks I explored the city of Berlin, focusing primarily on our treatment of nature within the urban landscape. At first, I couldn't see anything but concrete and asphalt and the constructed landscape – in other words, it felt like nature had been obliterated entirely and relegated to small pockets here and there, corralled in parks, stuffed into planters, and treated as a commodity in shops throughout the city.
And yet, as time passed I began to feel differently about the presence of nature within the city. I began to see it everywhere. In fact, one couldn't but notice it as the seasons were changing and leaves roamed freely throughout, rain began to interfere with my exploration of the city and then snow stopped me altogether from riding my bike around. I also became quite aware of the earth, the soil, under my feet. It is everywhere and yet it is only visible in the gaps, at the edges and in places where nature pushes through the constructed surface. And the trees, I took notice of the trees that stood individually, alone, surrounded by man-made structures. Why were these particular trees still standing? Who or what determined that they deserved to survive while all the surrounding plants or trees were taken down? |