I am posting two installations by the San Francisco installation artist Richard Serra. The first is a neon installation that accompanies a row of horse tacks. This image suggests the domination of the natural over technology and is calming in its repetition of natural forms. The second installation reflects Serra’s traditional large scale work, however the metal sculpture is set in the midst of the rolling earth countryside and is submissive to it, allowing its wandering nature to be preserved and even enhanced. The following link is an interview by Charlie Rose that is unique in its magnification of Serra’s artistic process and truths: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11634.
Artist Richard Serra poses for photographers beside one of his works entitled‘Fernando Pessoa’ during the unveiling of his new exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery in London October 3, 2008 via Reuters
Belts, 1966-67. Vulcanized rubber, and neon tubing. 6’ x 25’ x 20” (182.9 cm x 7.6 m x 50.8 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Panza Collection
Te Tuhirangi Contour, Richard Serra, 1999/2001
Kaipara, North Island, New Zealand.
Weatherproof steel, 6m x 257m x 5cm.
The site of “Te Tuhirangi Contour” is on the Kaipara harbour, 45km north of Auckland. The site is a vast open grass pasture with rolling elevations. The elevational fall of the land establishes curvilinear contours. The sculpture is located on one continuos contour, at a length of 257m. The particular contour was chosen for its location, differentiation, contraction and expansion in relation to the volume of the landscape. The elevation of the sculpture is perpendicular to the fall of the land which generates its lean of 11 degrees. The work was mocked-up full scale in wood to determine height and length. All images by German photographer Dirk Reinartz.
West Pacific Review 
I’m very taken by the Te Tuhirangi Contour and wonder what it would look like in different terrains….the feel it would have. In Australia it might be part of a desert song line, on a coast it might be a sea serpent and a breakwater. It’s beautiful in this bucolic setting…contour and cows. The photos are grand.