Avalanche 1998

Maya Lin made "Avalanche" using wood and hydrostone to bring a sense of nature indoors. The way Lin works with materials reminds me that art is about process just as much as the final result. Look closely at the lines across the undulating forms. They give the impression of water, or perhaps wind-swept sand. The horizontal emphasis really draws you across the expanse of the piece. But then you notice the pyramid-like form in the background. The contrast between horizontal and diagonal creates an interesting tension, doesn't it? The blue hue of the pyramid feels cool and distant compared to the warm earth tones of the "ground." This feels somehow connected to the Land Art movement of the 60s and 70s. Like Robert Smithson's "Spiral Jetty," Lin transforms our understanding of landscape through art. But in the end, art like this is about possibility, not answers.