motoi yamamoto meticulously sculpts salt labyrinths inside a 13th century french castle

motoi yamamoto meticulously sculpts salt labyrinths inside a 13th century french castle
all images courtesy of motoi yamamoto

inside the medieval castle tower at aigues-mortes, a 13th century walled city in southern france, japanese artist motoi yamamoto has completed two monumental installations made of salt. ‘floating garden’ and ‘labyrinth’ form part of the exhibition ‘univers’ sel‘ on from now until november 30, 2016, which celebrates creative interpretations of the natural element.

‘floating garden’ comprises a circular form filled with a lacework of carefully-placed grains of salt. in its realization, the artist sits down in a small space where no particles are laid, simultaneously moving a container of salt in a particular rhythm, a subtle movement which creates tiny cells that mimic bubble-like patterns. each of these thin salt ribbons symbolizes pieces of memories and fragments of time. the swirling, hurricane-like pattern is used as a motif used throughout east asia to represent life and death, resurrection, rebirth and vitality. the ephemeral artwork was realized in 45 hours over the course of five days.

the installation is housed within the castle tower at aigues-mortes

the installation ‘labyrinth’ is housed within the castle’s ramparts. the narrow stone passageway has been filled with an intricate maze of carefully-placed salt lines, forming a complex arrangement of delicate matter that snakes through the architecture of the space. these precise outlines lead through the corridor towards a large pile of salt placed at the doorway.

‘floating garden’ comprises a circular form filled with a lacework of carefully-placed grains of salt