We are part of nature. We have to include ourselves in what we mean when we refer to what is natural. I am interested in tracking and measuring the patterns of our universe. Increasingly I am drawn to the places where humans interact with our surroundings – both in passive and active ways. Many times that interaction can have a decidedly unnatural flavor. Through my art I attempt to make clear that despite the common view that we are above or separate from the environment, we are actually a part of it, and a very small part at that.
The same can be said of an artwork. It is just one part of an environment, and so it must take notice of what is already there. If I am creating an environment, I must be thorough, and make sure all of its parts have relation to one another. If I am placing a piece into an existing environment, it must address its surroundings. Many elements may come into play. The physical aspects of the environment are most obvious – the trees or walls or rocks. I am also interested in the historical, cultural, botanical, astronomic, geologic, sonic, and microbial aspects, to name a few.
Fritz Horstman
October, 2008