Bridge over a Tree 1970

Siah Armajani’s ‘Bridge over a Tree’ is a timber construction, existing somewhere between sculpture, architecture, and landscape intervention. The dark latticework is pretty striking, forming repeating diagonal crosses that create a kind of visual hum as your eye moves across the surface. It's interesting how the structure has both a sense of lightness and weight. The materials are solid, but the open design makes it feel permeable, like you could walk right through it, which you can! The peaked roof reminds me of childhood forts, mixed with the purposeful utility of a covered bridge. The way Armajani combines these architectural elements and merges art with everyday life reminds me a lot of Gordon Matta-Clark. But, Armajani’s work feels a bit more optimistic, like it is creating a new space, a place to connect, rather than dissecting what is already there. It’s an invitation to reimagine our surroundings and our relationship to them.