Wave Field 1995

Maya Lin, born to Chinese immigrants in Ohio, designed Wave Field, a large scale earthwork. Her upbringing and cultural heritage are central to understanding her art, where Eastern philosophies meet Western land art. Wave Field is not just about aesthetics, it’s about experiencing the landscape, walking through it, and feeling its undulations underfoot. These sculpted waves of earth invite us to reconsider our relationship with the environment. Lin encourages us to question our impact on nature, particularly in a time of increasing environmental concerns and climate change. The interplay between the natural and the artificial is a key theme in Lin's work. The Wave Field contrasts with the surrounding buildings, creating a dialogue between organic forms and the human-made structures. It's an invitation to reflect on how we shape our world and how it, in turn, shapes us.