There was a public art installation in Boston a while back that sparked my imagination. It was a series of 5 “fog sculptures” by famed Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya. Set in 5 of Boston’s most beautiful urban green spaces, the art allowed viewers the experience of walking into and through ephemeral sculptures in motion. Like entering into the unknown — the fog of our future.
Photo: Melissa Ostrow / Emerald Necklace Conservancy
What’s fog art?
It’s art that envelopes you. That lets you disappear inside. Art you can see through, that only lasts a moment and then changes shape, direction, and form. It’s art you can feel, touch, and lose yourself in. It’s vapor, mist, and cloud. Walking on a path through it you may see at first the ground in front of you. And then find it has disappeared in the cool smoke and you can’t see what’s ahead at all.
The experience was like walking inside music, or walking into our future.
Titled Fog x FLO, the installations were set in 5 parks within the Emerald Necklace—Boston’s ring of green spaces completed in 1896. The “FLO” is for Frederick Law Olmsted, known as the founder of American landscape architecture. Olmstead designed the Emerald Necklace, the 1,100-acre chain of urban parks that links more than a dozen city neighborhoods.
The Fens / Photo by Melissa Ostrow
At 85, Fujiko Nakaya has designed more than 80 fog sculptures around the world. Her work credits include installations for the Tate Modern in London, the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain, and the National Gallery of Australia. Fog x FLO marks the largest collaboration of her five-decade career.
Commissioned by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy to commemorate its 20th anniversary, Fog x FLO attracted many newcomers to the parks. To appreciate the natural beauty waiting to be discovered right here in front of us.
Here’s what struck me: fog, like music, is ephemeral. It only lasts a moment, it changes, and is gone.
Like time and life itself. Nakaya’s Fog Art reminded me that . . .
We can be afraid of change and uncertainty or we can learn to dance with the fear. We can choose to stride forward into the unknown.
Nakaya’s work whispers to me: “Don’t waste this moment—this one life you have.” Take courage in your forward motion so you can get more of your best work out into the world.
Fujiko Nakaya in the Emerald Necklace / Courtesy of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.
Help with entering into the unknown — the fog of our future
What is helping you move into unknown territory? How are you dealing with an uncertain future? Check out more ways to put the Byte on fear HERE.
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Looking forward,
Dream Big, Plan Smart, Live Well
