How to Create Your Own Desktop Monument Inspired by Nature

TL;DR

To create a desktop monument, find images of a natural setting online and use them as inspiration to construct a representation that captures the feeling of that place rather than a realistic depiction. Focus on the experience and emotional response the location evokes, reflecting on how your own interpretation transforms the natural image.

Transcript

This week we're meeting with Lee Boroson, who can usually be found in Brooklyn but right now is working in his summer studio in upstate New York. He's in high production mode, getting ready for his largest show to date, which will open at MASS MoCA this fall. He is best known for his large scale sculptural environments that emulate geographical str... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 Boroson uses inflatable sculptures to challenge the limitations of materials and create unique representations (such as fog) that evoke the experience of being in nature.
• 👻 Sculpture allows viewers to physically engage with the artwork and experience it over time.
• 👷 Nature is often shaped and arranged by human intervention, and Boroson's assignment encourages participants to consider their own constructions of nature.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Lee Boroson use inflatable sculptures in his artwork?

Boroson has been working with inflatable sculptures for many years and pushes their limits by using them to represent natural phenomena that they are not typically suited for.

Q: What is the significance of representing fog in Boroson's work?

Fog represents a disorienting and constantly changing experience of a natural setting. Boroson uses fabric and frosted plastic materials to mimic the fog's effect and create a sense of limited perception.

Q: Why does Boroson think sculpture is a good medium for representing nature?

Sculpture allows viewers to physically move through the artwork and experience it from different perspectives, mimicking the passage of time and adding depth to the overall experience.

Q: What is the assignment given by Boroson?

Boroson's assignment is to create a desktop monument based on internet research and images of a natural setting, focusing on capturing the experience of being in that place rather than creating a realistic depiction.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lee Boroson is an artist known for his large-scale sculptural environments inspired by geographical structures found in nature.

• He uses inflatable sculptures to push the boundaries of the material and create unique representations of natural elements like fog.

• Boroson's goal is to provide viewers with an experience of being in a natural setting rather than creating realistic depictions.