Yao Lu’s “New Landscapes” photos depict mountains, mist, rivers and trees, the cornerstones of classical Chinese painting, but take a closer look. What’s that trash? That construction netting?
Via Michael Zhang of Peta Pixel:
Yao arranges each scene shown in his large color photos, using the landfill materials to create various landscapes. He then photographs them, and adds in artificial elements (e.g. pagodas, waterfalls, trees, people) that make the scenes look more believable.
The seamless merging of ancient beauty with modern desecration is jarring, and makes us aware of our cognitive disconnect when looking at nature. In the museum gallery, we fawn over it; in our backyard, we see it as a belonging, to be corralled in order to serve us.
More pictures via the Bruce Silverstein gallery.
(H/T Ray Kwong)
