I enjoy his work. I enjoyed the video that we watched on him in class. I loved the frustration and momentary defeat on his face when his spider web blew down because of a slight breeze. So I can only imagine what thoughts were going through his head for a commission such as the Holocaust memorial. A contemplative space for a work of public art; a memorial garden to Jewish Holocaust Goldsworthy’s design was selected from 25 other others who responded to a call for art. I agree with the author of this article that it would have been interesting to see the other proposals in general. I don’t always agree that there is one right way of doing something or expressing an emotion or feeling.
The concept is morbid but brilliant. Is it meant to mock victims? After all there are still some alive. I do not see the problem in the botanical experiment. If the oak tree trunk does expand won’t it break the stone or at least crack it? I mean grass grows in the most ill conceivable of places like through a stone on the side of a mountain and grass is much more malleable than wood roots. The roots will not die nor atrophy. The tree will not die. These gigantic sarcophagus will no longer be a garden of death. Breaking free from the mold. They live on without captivity. Just like the survivors. They live on. L’chaim. Of course this is just my take on his concept. His end ideas are much different than mine. “In the end, this is a garden doomed, in part, to die-over and over again, a perverse concept for a garden, if not a memorial.”
His process of creation is most often more important than the content of his work. Hollowing out the boulders by use of fire is important. It gives way to the idea of the concentration camp fires. But also there is a subtraction process that exists. The same process that was used to create it in the first place is being used to destroy it.
The sculpture itself is beautiful. I think it is beautiful how it overlooks Ellis Island. I think it is incredible that Andy took the symbolism of the number 18 and the Hebrew word Chai and molded the two together to developed context. That is a deep multi-directional idea, something I would have probably done myself. But to the general public it has no meaning. Or it has other meaning. I love the response of viewers to the piece of work. Placing stones on top of the large boulders and a reference to a place of commemoration; part of their heritage. It’s beautiful. I agree that there should be some text explaining the artists intentions and ideas.; but only after the public has experienced the place. Let them walk through it. Feel it. Generate their own ideas. Then read what the artist’s were. And let the two merge together. Let them walk out of the building thinking about it. Think about at dinner or laying in bed trying to sleep. It’s those moments that will keep the memory and power of this place living forever, not the trees.
