Terra Incognita 1984

Lothar Baumgarten created this installation, Terra Incognita, using wooden planks, small lights, and shallow dishes. At first glance, the scattered elements appear to disrupt the gallery's defined space, creating a sense of organized chaos. The warm glow of the lights contrasts with the rough, earthy texture of the wood, drawing us in. Baumgarten often explores cultural and environmental themes, and in this work, he blurs the lines between nature and artifice. The arrangement of the planks and lights can be interpreted as a critique of imposed order on natural landscapes. The scattered dishes introduce an element of human intervention. This invites us to question how we perceive and interact with the environment. The artwork's form—its deliberate, yet seemingly random composition—challenges fixed meanings. It encourages us to consider the complex relationship between humanity, nature, and representation. It is a dynamic interplay between form and content, inviting ongoing interpretation.