Reflections of Landscape

In 2011, artist Anna Valentina Murch described the ideas behind her artwork for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations:

Everyday the United Nations does work that reminds us of our interconnectedness, that no nation is an island. The U.S. Mission to the United Nations expresses this global identity too, as delegates from all over the world pass through this new building’s lobby and convene in the offices, conference rooms, and event spaces above.

Nature is not divided by the imaginary lines of nations. It is a global web that predates the human race.  As our world becomes more electronically fluid and politically linked, we look to nature to better understand contemporary humanity. We now think of systems of intellectual exchange as ecosystems and feedback loops.

In Reflections of Landscape, I wanted to show water as a universal precious resource and a vital source of life: It does not recognize borders as it falls as rain and flows through our lakes, rivers, and oceans; yet water is not uniformly accessible on our planet, and we must act together in order to distribute this resource fairly. By capturing a passing moment of reflection, this contemplative image looks as if it is dissolving. It suggests that both water and the landscape are fragile, and require careful preservation.  

I chose to have this image fabricated as a tapestry, because I wanted to juxtapose its texture and softness with the architectural finishes. The image rendered as a tapestry appears dream-like, creating a contemplative window into our delicate natural world. Perhaps it will remind us of our role as active stewards of the environment.