2014
Mural for Bloomingdale’s new Stanford store in Palo Alto, California | 9 x 9 feet
The Tallest Tree in the World lives in the Redwood Forests of Northern California. Botanists have named him ”Hyperion”. Back when Hyperion was just a tiny seedling, about eight hundred years ago, human ingenuity and architectural savoir-faire was allowing our ancestors to reach new breathtaking heights with the construction of magnificent gothic cathedrals. Meanwhile, Nature had quietly been building its own cathedrals for a million years. It is one such Sanctuary that I had the chance to discover when I was doing research for this project. It is impossible to describe with words the feelings that washed over me when I was in the middle of these majestic giants. At the same time colossal and elementary, peaceful and lively, these surroundings fill you with a sense of wonder, humility and reverence. I could not help but thinking that these monumental trees were communicating with each other, through their complex network of roots and the rustling of their leaves, like an immortal council pondering, with ancient wisdom, the eternal passing of time.
Another aspect I wanted to convey with this piece is the veritable symphony of Life, supported and protected by these Titans: Moss, flowering shrubs, orchids, ferns, berries, myriads of butterflies and birds.
All efforts have been made to accurately display the colors of each art piece. Please note, individual computer monitors may display colors and tonal values differently.
© 2014 Ysabel LeMay. All Rights Reserved.