Chrysalis
Mark Baugh-Sasaki, 2012, steel and granite, © 2012, courtesy of the artist
Mark Baugh-Sasaki
Through his inventive sculptures, photographs and videos, Mark Baugh-Sasaki explores the intersection of the industrial and natural worlds. He documents our collective need to civilize and assimilate nature, and captures imagined moments in the evolution of altered landscapes. He works with basic industrial materials, such as steel, aluminum, wood and glass, and transforms them into organic forms that recall their journey between the natural and industrial realms. He presents fictional objects and spaces whose altered forms invite us to reflect on our own place in this hybridized world. Baugh-Sasaki’s work is not a diatribe against human encroachment upon nature. Rather, it is a reflection of what we see around us — a landscape that is neither purely wild nor entirely domesticated. And it is a hopeful vision of a future in which the best of industry and nature prevail in the evolutionary process. Throughout Baugh-Sasaki’s work, natural elements, such as stones and branches, join forces with industrial materials to defy gravity and carry out feats of growth and adaptation normally reserved for living things. Perhaps these works are a model of how we move forward, by using technology, industry and ingenuity to help nature overcome the stresses of human population and consumption growth.
Explore the Gallery
Gravity
Mark Baugh-Sasaki, 2015, found wood, 72″ x 108″ x 108″, © 2015, courtesy of the artist
Mark Baugh-Sasaki created “Gravity” during a residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts, which is located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This natural area was the site of Fort Barry, used by the U.S. Army until 1974. A close examination of this artwork reveals plant materials that are a common sight in the San Francisco Bay Area: branches and leaves from non-native trees, including the Tasmanian blue gum eucalyptus. The army and other settlers of the region planted these fast-growing trees for a variety of purposes, but their spread crowds out native species, transforms the ecology of the environment and increases fire risk. Learn more about the impact of this “moderate invasive species” in this article.
Strange Attractions
Mark Baugh-Sasaki, 2011, steel and California bed rock, 36″ x 84″ x 36″, © 2011, courtesy of the artist
According to Baugh-Sasaki, his artistic perspective was deeply influenced by explorations of the landscapes of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended Carnegie Mellon University. “The relationship that the city has with the natural environment and the lasting effects the steel industry had on the landscape was completely engrossing. The land was transformed from old growth forests and pristine rivers to an industrial wasteland. My experience watching this post-industrial landscape transform back into a habitable space changed my work. The relationship that I saw unfolding before me between the natural and industrial became a cornerstone for the development of my use of reclaimed wood, found stone, steel, and cast metal.”
How can technology and design help nature overcome the stresses of human activity? This is a key question in cities all over the world, where healthy trees are a critical feature of urban environments. Learn how landscape designers have used a variety of supports to buttress city trees in thisarticle on plant prosthetics.
Adaptations
Mark Baugh-Sasaki, 2009, steel and collected branches, 9′ x 15′ x 10′, © 2009, courtesy of the artist
In “Adaptations,” Baugh-Sasaki creates a dynamic space in which natural materials and the built environment are intertwined. The work highlights the connections between nature and the industrial landscape. Learn more about this project in thisvideo.
Featured Actions
Mark Baugh-Sasaki’s work explores the intersection of the industrial and natural worlds and the potential to design hybrid environments in which both can thrive. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center. Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.