Nils-Udo is a Bavarian artist who originally painted natural subjects but turned to sculpting with nature in 1972. His work is really captivating and is often accompanied by thought-provoking poet-like quotes. It is similar to that of Andy Goldsworthy, but I think in some cases it surpasses the more popular nature sculptures. "The Nest," made in 1978 out of earth, stones, birch, and grass is my favorite piece, with the quote:
"I smelled the earth, the stones, the freshly struck wood.
I built the nest walls high and twisted the soil of the nest.
From the height of the edge of the nest I looked down on the forest soil,
up into the branch work of the trees and into the sky.
I heard the singing of the birds and felt the breath of the wind.
In the dawn I began to freeze. The nest was not finished yet.
I thought, high above on the edge of the nest squatting:
I build myself a house, it sinks silently past the tops of the trees on the forest soil,
openly to the cold night sky and nevertheless warmly and softly,
deeply into the dark earth dug."
Like Goldsworthy, it's very finely crafted with nice elements of form and pattern. The amazing feel that Nils-Udo achievs in this photograph though is something I haven't seen in a Goldsworthy piece. The setting and lighting have this soft quality to them that is reminiscent of the sculpture itself, as well as of a traditional European forest. Somehow he achieves this perfect densely forested setting without it looking over done and 'set up.' The imperfections such as the overhanging branches are just enough to keep it genuine without interfering with the work. Finally, the words that he includes really top it all off, fleshing out the setting and cozy feel of the whole piece.
Here are some other works of his:
"Untitled-21" Lime tree, bird berries and lime tree sheets, Aachen, Germany, 1999
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>"Hommage à Gustav Mahler", Mound of earth, poplar plantings, grass plantings, ash poles, hazel sticks, traveler's joy, Chiemgau, Upper Bavaria, Germany, 1973
"Planting has been at the center of my work since 1972. I first began with the farmers of my region, in the Chiemgau Alps of Upper Bavaria. Collaborating with these farmers in the early 70's I created works with earth modellings and partially expanded them by planting.
My work in the Chiemgau Alps consisted of planting trees, bushes, lawns and flowers. By integrating them into more complex installations, the work is literally implanted into nature. As a part of nature, the work lives and passes away in the rhythm of the seasons. Nature became my art area..."
"Waterhouse", Spruce trunks, birch branches, willow switches and lawn plantings, Wattenmeer, Cuxhaven, Germany, 1982
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"To design with flowers.
To paint with the clouds.
To write with water.
To record the wind of may or
the path of a falling leaf.
To work on a storm. To anticipate a glacier.
To arrange water and light....
To take in a forest or a prairie....
To open up the living,
three dimensional spaces of Nature.
With the slightest possible intervention, to electrify and transform the spaces of Nature
into the spaces of Art..."
"Untitled", Brookbed, Bindweed Blossoms, Ile de la Réunion, Indian Ocean, 1990
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< "Root Sculpture", 1995 Parque Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico
"It was toward the end of a dry period. For months there had been very little rain. The earth was hard like concrete. We proceeded very carefully so we would not hurt the tender roots We drained, scratched, scraped and dug for one week. After the photographs the pit was naturally again filled up."
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"The Frog", Child, raft made of spruce trunks, old leaves, duckweed and fern leaves, Forêt de Marchiennes, France, 1994
http://greenmuseum.org/artist_index.php?artist_id=36
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