Inversion
A four-month-long collaborative installation
Displayed at The Museum of Outdoor Arts, CO
2024
About
Inversion invites viewers to reflect on the often-overlooked relationship between human life and the ground beneath us. Scientifically, it takes
just six people walking a similar path to alter the ground's composition permanently. Thus, this piece is a contemplative exploration of the subtle yet profound impact we have on the world, and how the world, in turn, affects us.
Responding to the extensive building efforts in the Denver metro area, Inversion uses earth (typically disregarded as construction waste) as material. Earthen beads are illuminated by motion-activated lights, symbolizing the often invisible yet enduring effects we have on our environment. These lights react to the viewer's presence, underscoring the idea that our interactions with the world leave a lasting, albeit intangible, mark.
True to its message, Inversion is fully biodegradable and will gradually return to its natural form during the course of its display, serving as a reminder of the cyclical and transient nature of both our actions and their consequences.
Written by Michael Earle, design lead