Caspian Sea (Bodies of Water Series) 2006

Maya Lin made this topographical sculpture of the Caspian Sea as part of her 'Bodies of Water' series. You can really see the layers of light wood, built one on top of another, in a kind of contour map. I love that Lin has used sculpture to represent a body of water, such as a sea. There is a real paradox in that – water is fluid, it ebbs and flows and changes, whereas this wooden structure is solid and still. It is as though she is trying to pin down the unpinnable. I bet she was thinking a lot about climate change and fragility when she made this piece. The use of wood creates a feeling of warmth and naturalness, yet the man-made layering effect reminds us that this is a constructed landscape. What a way to get us to think about nature! Lin’s practice is a reminder that artists are always learning and evolving. The dialogue between artists is ongoing.