Giant Triple Mushrooms 2009

These oversized 'Giant Triple Mushrooms' - by Carsten Holler - invite us to consider the shifting scales of the world. They are not painted, as such, but their textures and hues have been carefully rendered to mimic the forms of nature. I can imagine the artist, deeply invested in the visual and tactile qualities of these fungi. The artist may be observing the fine lines of the gills under the mushroom caps, and thinking about growth and decay. The colours here—earthy browns, subtle whites, and striking reds—vibrate against one another. Look at the middle mushroom! See the way it seems to have multiple stems fused together? Holler might be influenced by Surrealism and the ways it can bring the outside world inside out! His sculptures open up a space for us to wander and get lost in our thoughts. These forms become embodied expressions. Artists like Holler inspire creativity by embracing ambiguity, so we can see things from different angles.