This project was first presented in 2022 in Littleton, Colorado. Images remain property of Connor Hesen. Prints available on request.

Artist Statement

Нет войне: No to War

"Нет войне" is an environmental art project created by continuously walking back and forth for several hours until the grass lay flat. Each letter measures roughly 12’ x 6’. The letters have been slightly exaggerated in Adobe Lightroom for digital clarity. The phrase "Нет войне" translates to "No to War."

The piece aims to give a voice to the citizens around the world standing up against tyranny and destruction. Nature always overruns land art with time. It overruns the rubbles of a war-torn country. It will overrun civilization long after we are gone. This earthwork may only be visible for a couple of weeks; the signs may only be held up for a couple of seconds; the remnants of a devastating war may only be visible for a couple of decades. But one thing remains true: human lives will never be restored. Facts should never be forgotten. Invasions should never be tolerated. Freedom will prevail.

The artwork reflects on the impermanence of human constructs, whether they are artistic expressions or the scars left by warfare. It serves as a testament to the strength and determination of those who oppose oppression and violence.

Through this work, I aim to not only capture a moment of protest but also invite viewers to reflect on the broader implications of war and peace. The piece is a call to action, urging us to remember the human cost of war and to strive for a world where freedom and peace prevail.

Follow-up images regarding the status of the land will be provided over time. Hopefully, the war will be over before the piece fades away.

Additional Photos

More Land Art

Invasive (Site/Non-Site) - [2016]

Quarantine - [2016]

Rockway (Micro v. Macro) - [2016]

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Originally published in 2022 by Connor Hesen.

Republished to habla.news/u/hes@nostrplebs.com on 7/5/2024.

Find more of my work at connorhesen.net

This project was first presented in 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Images remain property of Connor Hesen. Prints available on request.

Site // Teller Lake Number 5

Non-site // University of Colorado Visual Arts Complex

Artist Statement

Invasive: Chaos and Order

"Invasive" is an environmental art project inspired by the concept of "Site / Non-Site," developed by Robert Smithson, a pioneer of Land art in the 1960s. A Site is a location outside the gallery, where the natural materials are collected and documented. A Non-Site is a body of objects and documentation inside the gallery, where the natural materials are transformed and displayed as sculpture.

The project is centered around Teller Lake #5, a location where human intervention has disrupted the natural balance of the ecosystem. Uneasy yet harmonious, eerie yet relaxing. Tall trees invade the path leading to the lake and begin to take over. Broken glass protrudes into walkways. Large slabs of concrete displaced on the beach. In 2013, goldfish are introduced to the lake by man, multiplying rapidly and threatening native species. The ecosystem is broken and infested. Man begins to plot solutions to this problem. In 2015, hungry pelicans arrive and consume most of the goldfish, restoring order to the lake without human intervention. Nature wins again.

The Site features large slabs of concrete on the beach, presumably left by human activity. One of these slabs is in perfect alignment with the lake, creating an unexpected visual connection.

The Non-Site of this project is located in the University of Colorado Visual Arts Complex stairwell, where the materials and impressions from the Site are reinterpreted and re-contextualized.

The Non-Site consists of the concrete slab found at Teller Lake, with a circular dirt ring, representing the slab and the circle found at the Site. The slab is raised off the floor by a cinder block, offering an abstract view of the piece from above. The work also includes photographs and maps of the Site, as well as samples from the area and an eerie audio-track ringing through the echoey space.

"Invasive" delves into the complex relationship between humans and nature by examining the impact of human intervention on Teller Lake #5. The project highlights the tension between the natural and artificial, and encourages viewers to think about the consequences of our actions on the environment. By exploring this issue, "Invasive" invites us to consider the delicate balance between nature and human activity, and how our choices can have far-reaching effects on the world around us.

Additional Photos

Originally published in 2016 by Connor Hesen.

Republished to habla.news/u/hes@nostrplebs.com on 6/30/2024 with slight edits.

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