This organic art is only temporary – a fleeting moment of organization in a seemingly chaotic world. Mason often combines leaves into geometric designs, cuts patterns into them or leaves a trail to create a pattern. The photograph then is the only proof of his creation, which is often ruined or destroyed by a gust of wind or the next storm. Water, stones, leaves, needles and grass all play an important role in his designs, which evolve from in-the-moment inspiration.
As Mason says on his Tumblr page – “Everything I do is an experiment. If the picture I make is good or not is of little importance in comparison to what I have learned. If the experiment ‘works’ I have the feeling of arrival, of completion, I am finished with the idea. If it doesn’t work I often learn far more; it makes me think about why I failed, and often gives me dozens of new ideas.” The Berlin-based artist has a slew of great images of his work on his Flickr page if you want to see more.
+ Walter Mason on Flickr
+ Meandermind
Via Kuriositas
Images ©Walter Mason
Andy Goldsworthy is a British artist who has been doing same thing for at least) the last 15-20 years. He has published several books on his naturalistic art, and was subject of the documentary film Rivers and Tides.
Mason’s work is beautiful, but feels like he’s very closely imitating Goldsworthy.
Yeah, the Goldsworthy conflict… of course Andy doesn’t have a patent on making art out of leaves and sticks, but he has established himself and his beautiful work quite firmly. It is an intuitive drive to make things in a similar way, and Andy G has done a very wide range of work, so I always feel like he has it covered, unless I were to go in a very particular direction with it. These images fall well within Goldsworthy’s covered terrain. Slightly more attention to detail, but not sure it adds a new dimension to A.G.’s work in any way.