Pipliotti Rist’s instillation created a vibrant and euphoric world of its own, one that allowed me to forget about my busy life and bask in its beauty. The visuals on all levels were mesmerizing and evoked a sense of wonderment. I was lost for a few minutes, and found myself standing in the middle of the electric forest, staring at the projection screen and being serenaded by the accompanying music. The piece was as pleasant visually as it was sonically. Though, there came a point when the music would get a little darker, and the visuals more aggressive. It seems Rist wanted to entrance the viewers, and while in their deepest states, snap her fingers to wake them up. I can interpret this as getting too comfortable with life, getting sucked into a droning cycle, and desperately needing a wake up call. Rist was able to subtly and successfully pull this off in her pixel forest.
The juxtaposition of nature and the human condition seemed to narrate the story of how far off we’ve trailed from being a part of this Earth, and how far we’ve strayed from the primitive. The painted over household items represented our consumerist lifestyles and wasteful habits. If I were to guess, I’d say that Rist is hitting on the unfortunate self-destructive nature of the human species. However, there was an undertone of optimism, and it seems she has faith. She was able to highlight the beauty in our connection to this planet, as there were images of fingers against flowers and breasts against landscapes.
One thing I enjoyed most about this installation was Rist’s exposure of her own life. She utilized bits and pieces of her childhood to create a personable piece. Vulnerability and fragility were thus evidently present.