earth skins process |
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Honor the earth. Ask its permission. Then, make an image of its spirit - a skin - to share with people. That's my work: an effort to reconnect the human spirit with the spirit of nature.
Earth Skins are made by Canadian land artist Richard Watts, as a way of honouring and reconnecting us with the land. Each one presents a one-of-a-kind portrait of the spirit world around us: trees, rock, boats, homes and objects all feature in Watts' work. Earth Skins are made using a vulcanized latex mold-making rubber embedded with several layers of gauze, like creating a canvas or cocoon, pressed into the surfaces of the landscape around us and embedded with natural phenomena (leaves, porcupine quills, etc.) This process creates an "impression" of the landscape that is then lit carefully from behind to reveal the intricate and minute details of our world's body and spirit.
These spiritual works are unique to Canada, and a way of documenting and respecting the ever-changing land around us. Through the process, Watts' seeks to draw attention to the deeper spiritual world that exists in everyday life, reconnecting humanity to the land and nature.
These spiritual works are unique to Canada, and a way of documenting and respecting the ever-changing land around us. Through the process, Watts' seeks to draw attention to the deeper spiritual world that exists in everyday life, reconnecting humanity to the land and nature.
Earth Skin and sculpture process video, 2015