nature at risk by lara placido and sara bento botelho

the blank white canvas

natureza em risco (nature at risk) was conceived by architect lara plácido and sculptor sara bento botelho. the challenge for the project was to evoke art in the garden, summoning the idea of transformation through the (in)voluntary action of visitors. the two have cultivated a path within a garden around a large expansive white canvas that has been placed in an arc. this canvas provides an area in which to record experiences within the space through various markers and coloured pencils which are provided. the canvas becomes a kind of diary of the garden in which it resides superimposing spontaneous and arbitrary records, through the action of the wind on the rods which have the markers attached to them. the rods and markers themselves become a sort of wind printer, encouraging viewers to interact with them, creating a drawing of their journey.

recording in process

because of the swaying movement of the rods, the wind also plays a role on the markings made on the canvas

visitors are invited to write and draw on the canvas, contributing their own story to the canvas