Worldscapes In Louise Nevelson's Sky Cathedral

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Louise Nevelson creates “worldscapes” by placing her sculptures on walls and ceilings in order to encapsulate her viewer, and make them hyper aware of the world around them. One of her most remarkable worldscapes was Sky Cathedral. In this monumental piece, currently in an exhibition at the San Jose Museum of Art, Nevelson vertically and horizontally stacks wooden boxes filled with abstract wooden scraps one on top of another. Evoking the feeling of a brick wall, Nevelson shows how even when there seems to be a barrier sectioning off parts of the unknown, there is somehow a way to explore what is beyond the said barrier. This is why Nevelson’s use of the word “worldscape” over landscape is so important. It emphasizes the importance of thinking about the bigger picture, rather than just simply accepting what is being presented in the surrounding atmosphere.…show more content…
Nevelson plays off of this assumption, and exposes the viewer to another dimension, while keeping them fully aware of their current atmosphere. Timeless aspects of her work reinforce these metaphysical interests she plays with. Her use of abstract wood scraps keep a certain distance between what is recognizable in the work, and what is not, thereby allowing the work to dive further into the realm of mystery. It is essential for this work to be seen as directing itself to the future instead of the past. Nevelson, a devoted student of metaphysics, approaches the idea of the abstract with a scientific view, allowing her ideas to be represented tangibly instead of just theoretically. This tactile sense of exploration goes back to the root of all human development, and most importantly emphasizes that there is more in the future to still be

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