German artist Cornelia Konrads is a master of creating site-specific installations that surprise, entertain and engage viewers around the world. Often placed in public spaces, parks or gardens, her works redefine traditional perceptions of space and gravity. With an extraordinary talent for arranging natural materials into surreal compositions, Konrads creates works that seem to defy the laws of physics.
One of the most fascinating aspects of her art is her ability to make seemingly heavy and static objects – such as stones or logs – appear to float in the air or be in a state of transition, as if captured in a frame at the moment of disintegration. The installations, although technically advanced, hardly betray any traces of construction. This effect lulls viewers into a state of wonder and invites them to redefine the relationship between matter and space.
Below is an overview of the most interesting realisations, highlighting the mastery of the art of combining natural elements with illusion.
The Gate (2004)
Location: Fontainebleau, France
On the remains of two centuries-old columns of an ancient gate in the forest of Fontainebleau, Konrads created a metaphorical installation. She complemented the historic columns with identical stones, fixed on steel rods. The stones appear to be suspended in time – balancing between restoration and destruction. The installation comments on the processes of passing and renewal, reminding us of the cyclical nature and history.
Piled Forest (2006)
Location: Arte Sella, Borgo Valsugana, Italy
This installation on a forest path depicts a pile of pine logs that appear to float above the ground, creating the illusion of separation from gravity. This illusory levitation of the logs emphasises the harmony and tension between the natural and the man-made.
Tree Memorial (2007)
Location: I-Park, East Haddam, Connecticut, USA
This installation refers to the passing of time and commemorates a tree by recreating its structure from bark and other materials. On a small hill, the tree trunk takes on a monumental character, reminding viewers of the cyclical nature and human interference.
Still Life with Tree (2008)
Location: Mont à Chastreix, France
Located in a meadow in Mont à Chastreix, the installation is a sculpture that mimics a fragment of the landscape, combining natural elements with building materials. The work explores the theme of the interaction between nature and architecture.
Passage (2015)
Location: Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
The artist has created an installation on the border of a forest that invites visitors to pass through an illusory portal made of branches. The work symbolises a passage – both physical and metaphorical – between different spaces and states of being.
Bridge (2018)
Location: Blackfoot Pathways, Lincoln, MT, USA
A bridge constructed of sticks and planks creates the illusion of suspension over a dry creek bed. The installation is a reminder of the fragility and ephemerality of nature, as well as the human impact on the environment.
Tree House (2022)
Location: Sologne, France
A house standing on the border of a forest is connected to an oak tree that grows out of its interior through the roof. The trunk is surrounded by levitating tiles and the whole creates a magical and surreal setting.
Wood Revolting (2022)
Location: Sti For Øye, Stokke, Norway
An installation has been created at the site of a massive logging operation, in which the middle part of a woodpile appears to levitate. The work addresses the conflict between nature and human exploitation of resources.
Escape Route (2023)
Location: Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria
A bridge of stone and wood in a valley, crossing a popular hiking trail, is a symbolic ‘escape route’. The installation emphasises the connection between nature and the human need to create passageways through wild landscapes.
Konrads draws inspiration from the environment in which he creates. She uses natural materials available locally: branches, stones, earth or ice, which allows her to blend her installations perfectly into the context of the space while giving them a unique character. Her ability to integrate her works into their surroundings makes viewers feel as if the installations are a natural, albeit surprising, element of the landscape. One of the key elements of Cornelia Konrads’ art is her sense of playfulness. Her installations are often interactive – viewers can move around them, look at them from different perspectives and sometimes even go inside them.
Konrads presents her work all over the world – from France to South Korea, creating installations that engage in a dialogue with the local landscape and culture. Each work is unique in that it takes into account the particularities of the place, its history and the natural materials available locally. Cornelia Konrads redefines the notion of site-specific installation, creating works that not only delight in their visual form, but also engage emotionally. Her works balance the boundaries between fantasy and reality but also remind us how extraordinary the world is when we look at it through the eyes of a child – with wonder and curiosity.
Source: cokonrads.de
Also read: Sculpture | Art Installation | Curiosities | whiteMAD on Instagram
Subject: Art against the laws of physics. Unusual site-specific installations by Cornelia Konrads
