Worlds Unseen
There are the elements in nature we encounter every day. Blades of grass, the branches of trees, the ripples of a pond, the petals of flowers. There is, however, another deeper universe that exists beneath; it’s harder to see, but no less crucial. This installation uses transparent columns as ethereal pedestals to showcase all the natural beauty that normally escapes our eyes, both above and below the surface. It is, in effect, a glimpse of nature in its most complete and holistic state, and a rarely afforded view of wonders undiscovered and worlds unseen.
«Worlds Unseen» is intended to be a revelation. Of many things, but at its most basic level, it will reveal the beautiful elements of nature that normally escape our eyes. On a daily basis, we encounter the branches and leaves of a tree, but we are totally blind to the intricate structure of its roots. We notice a lily pad on the top of a pond, but we’re unaware of the tendrils that coil and reach beneath the water. And we are cognizant of the insects and worms that scamper across the sidewalk, but we’re oblivious to the complex structure of their tunnels below the soil.
The purpose of this installation is to change all that. Using an array of transparent columns, each showcasing a different environment and form of wildlife, we will display nature in its entirety, and in doing so, re-instill a sense of childlike wonder in those who confront it. In each of our eight carefully layered terrarium-structures, we will feature rainbow carrots, leafy ferns, wildflowers, aquatic plants, and a worm farm. Magnifying panels will allow viewers to approach each microcosm and study it in depth; they will see the portions of the natural structures they are already familiar with, but at the same time, meet face-to-face with all the beauty that exists below. And each column will change over time, giving viewers a reason to come back and follow its progress. The brightly-colored carrots will slowly take shape beneath a layer of mulch and dirt; wildflowers will bloom and open their petals under the sun; earthworms will carve intricate tunnels through striations of soil, and aquatic plants will stretch their tendrils downward, creating a magnificent plume of emerald green.
Ultimately, our hope is that «Worlds Unseen» will bring people closer to nature, and also to a more complete understanding of it. By displaying the natural world from both above and below, we hope to reveal its profound interconnected-ness, but also the rich totality of its beauty. There is always more than meets the eye, and as this installation will clearly demonstrate, a whole universe awaits just beneath the surface.
Staging Nature
Each column will show the worlds unseen, showcasing a piece of the great beauty of nature, staging what we already know above grown, as well as the unknown underground. The viewer will be able to admire the architectural roots and their interactions and symmetry with the plant, with each growing up and down at the same time. Magnifiers will be added on the surface of the plexiglass; the magnifier will zoom on details of the underground life inside the column. Each visitor will be able to look closer and see how nature is growing both underground and above.
The Columns will grow over 3 months
Seeds, bulbs, and young plants will be planted in May, at the beginning of the installation. The plants inside the column will grow week after week to the top of the column. The visitor will see the columns evolving over time, and each week the installation will change and grow from the seed to the flower.
Transparent Columns + Layers of Soil
Each column is made out of clear plexiglass. Small holes in the plexiglass will allow excess rain water to drain. Each column will be deeply dug into the ground to form a foundation. The surrounding earth will be compacted, then each column will be filled in accordingly with specific layers of gravels, sand, sub soil, top soil, etc. Each column will have appropriate earth layers according to its own plant.
