Back to the Land

A sculpture that explores ecological connections

Are you connected to the land? Do you contemplate your place in nature?

Back to the Land is an artwork and metaphorical connecting object, that joins wearers to each other, and to the land. The sculpture playful invites audiences to consider alternate forms of ecological relationships through an experiment that blurs the line between artificial and natural.

“Back to the Land’ is recurring social motif calling for the return to a more agrarian way of life, either through independent food production, or moving out beyond populated city centers for a more rural way of life. Such movements have historically been motivated by social or economic reform, land distribution and war efforts. Often these ideas are accompanied by romantic idealism emphasizing independence over interdependence. In this artwork we playfully entertain a notion of an ecological fabric that binds us together with our environment, to remind us of the connections we all share.

The joining suit is a metaphorical connecting object that acts as a digitally-controlled, 10-person instrument, laden with multiple clear portals, zippered entryways and sewn, photovoltaic sensors. As visitors climb into the garment, sensors measure fabric-movement and modulate a live soundscape being mic’d from inside and replayed through a nearby sound system. The unique, real-time interaction leads to an auditory and visual shift for audience perception inside the art. This ironic, absurd, but creative juxtaposition, aims to playfully demonstrate an interconnected mediation between human-environmental interaction.

Constructed from 100 yards of pink lycra (what bathing suits are made from), the mediated pink garment was stretched across the deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts USA. In collaboration with the Institute of Infinitely Small Things, I helped develop the concept and design for the artwork, as well as the fabrication of a set of plastic domes. I also designed and built a wireless sensor network and custom audio application to drive the interactive soundscape. Aleta Deyo (Fashion/Costume Designer) produced the fabric and integrated the zippered domes and sensors inside the garment.