The Universe in the Landscape

More about the book

Landforms are a rapidly evolving art form, celebrated for their beauty and diverse applications. Often created from necessity—like repurposing coal sites or utilizing excess earth—these landscapes invite exploration. In this collection, Charles Jencks shares his unique perspective on landforms, drawing inspiration from Britain's prehistoric earthworks, such as Stonehenge. His works embody cosmic symbolism and integrate elements like sculpture, water, gardens, and architecture, addressing themes of identity, nature, death, and life's power through a contemporary lens informed by scientific insights. Jencks's designs also include poignant commentary, such as a water garden critiquing the 2003 Iraq invasion with interactive features like 'waterpults' and 'hose-guns.' Another installation—a white garden of birch trees and computer graphics—explores modernity's fatal consequences. With humor and irony, he examines the implications of large-scale landforms, exemplified by Northumberlandia, the largest human figure ever created, prompting questions about which parts are safe to traverse. This sequel to The Garden of Cosmic Speculation aims to establish a new landscape iconography, reflecting eternal forms and themes that resonate with nature's laws. Jencks connects spiritual quests from history with scientific perspectives, revealing the underlying patterns that unify our planet and the cosmos within a landscape.