We are both saddened and heartened that Boyang Yu‘s enigmatic, thought provoking sculpture “Points Of Departure Act II” has officially “departed” from the Sculpture Forest.  When Boyang Yu flew out from New York City 4.5 years ago with his assistant to create the site installation, he knew that the materials and approach he was using would result in a limited natural lifespan for his art.  He used down tree branches from the floor of the surrounding forest, and he intentionally created a rickety, leaning structure.  Natural rot in the wood eventually succumbed to gravity.  We were happy that it survived this long for everyone to experience.

The sculpture had multiple meanings and created animated discussion among visitors trying to interpret it.  The wood chair on top of the combination of natural and human-made materials reminded us of how everything in our lives, such as the chair, originally comes from the Earth and natural elements, such as the tree branches.  The chair also teetered at an angle, reminding us that the higher we try to “elevate” ourselves as a species away from nature, the more precarious the future of the human race potentially becomes.

We are thankful for Boyang’s experimental participation in the Sculpture Forest as an early founding member of the Sculpture Forest Family.  You may see more of his work in the future.  Thank you so much, Boyang!

Photo by Sara Stubblefield