Organic Interactions
Human qualities and personality in respect to nature is a subject I explore and convey through my work.
Metropolis II
I was bewildered by the collections held at the LACMA. The museum’s works incorporate the entire timeline of art from ancient times all the way to the present. I was in awe of the wide range of elaborate pieces that I couldn’t stop staring at. One sculpture in particular that caught my eye was Chris Burden’s Metropolis II.
Metropolis II was one of the most innovative subject matters I’ve ever witnessed. Chris Burden created this intricate kinetic art installation in order to demonstrate his theory of what traffic will be like in the future. This mind bending work consists of eighteen roadways and HO scale train tracks that are designed to represent the form of a rollercoaster. Toy cars are hoisted up long ramps, only to be released at the top and eventually fly by at a speed of 240 scale miles per hour. Burden proves just how stressful it would be like to live in a city where all civilization hears is the never-ending noise of cars and trains. The cars don’t rest for even a split second; they continue to speed down the numerous twisting futuristic paths. Burden reveals how incredibly busy the future will be and what impact it will have on society.
I was completely mesmerized by the view of Metropolis II. I felt as if I were a child again racing hot wheels on my toy track. I couldn’t stop watching the thousands of individual cars race against one another along the complex roads. If life appeared in this form in the future, I would feel extremely overwhelmed from the continuous noise of the advanced technology and car engines. I would be very frustrated with the fact that nature would be even further away from its true form of beautiful trees, flowers, and natural wildlife that Mother Nature produced. I wonder and worry of what will become of the animals and natural resources such as lakes and forests that the world witnesses today. I am scared because I know this view of the future will be close to its reality, and I dread of the way the world will look like when that time comes.
Metropolis II proves how humans take advantage of the technology. Modern society is already revolving around new and more efficient technology. At the rate technology is advancing, I can’t help but wonder how much time humans have left to truly cherish earth’s natural state. If the world experiences environments produced my Metropolis II in the future, pollution such as smog, car exhaust, and other toxic chemicals, could completely devastate the atmosphere that supports life as we know it. I also wonder whether man will actually choose to appreciate the view of complex technology covering the world compared to the beauty of nature. Will people become brainwashed by the effects that the advancing technology produces and cherish metal over gardens and wildlife?
Chris Burden opened my mind to the harmful possibilities that the future could potentially hold. I am pleased to live in my time now where I know I can truly enjoy the woods, creeks, and natural wildlife. We must appreciate the environment that is given today before we forget the positive effects that nature has on us. I will always stare at the hawks that fly overhead because someday the blue sky might be blocked by a view of roads and skyscrapers that will never come down.
