No. 58: Lily Clark
Sensitive Chaos by Theodor Schwenk, the Guadalupe Dunes, Elyn Zimmerman, Google Map pins, and "Wavespace" by Lachlan Turczan.
Lily Clark is a sculptor born and based in Los Angeles. She primarily works with water, using stone, metal, and ceramic to highlight aspects of fluid dynamics. Around 10 years ago, she had a lightbulb moment that led her to work with water: “At the time, I was making work about topology, spatial dimensions, and perception. Then I stumbled on this film series on fluid mechanics put out by MIT in the ’60s. Something clicked for me, and I realized I could dedicate the rest of my life to this medium that has so many peculiar traits, many of which I’m still discovering first-hand.” There’s a deeply beautiful nature to her work, both visually and auditorily, with subtle threads of her California upbringing and moments like her residency in Japan woven into the experience. This weekend is the final weekend to see her piece in Marta’s show “Objects for a Heavenly Cave”. And, most importantly, today is Lily’s birthday! From the birthday girl —
I. a book
Sensitive Chaos by Theodor Schwenk was a deep cut I learned about while reading a biography on Viktor Schauberger. Both were influenced by the ideas of Rudolf Steiner in the late 1800s but with an anthroposophical focus on water. I absolutely love the pen and ink diagrams dotted throughout the margins.
The book concludes with a photo collection that showcases vortical patterns found across both micro and macro scales, in nature and history—from swirling clouds and wood grain to ancient stone carvings and ornamental designs.
II. a place
I recently learned about the Guadalupe Dunes, a stunning 26-acre stretch of pristine sand dunes just north of Vandenberg Air Force Base, outside of Los Angeles. It's a bit of a hidden gem—surprisingly, no one I know in LA has heard of it. The dunes have a fascinating history, and the visitor center does a great job of explaining their mysteries. In 1923, The Ten Commandments was filmed there, featuring what was then the largest movie set ever built. Rather than dismantle the set after filming, the production crew secretly buried it beneath the sand. Nearly 60 years later, archaeologists began uncovering pieces of the set, and excavations are still ongoing today.
III. an artist
Elyn Zimmerman’s stone and water sculptures have been a big influence for me lately. I’ve been thinking about sculpting work at a public artwork scale this year so I’m often turning to her for reference. Also so inspired by a fellow female stone sculptor (there aren’t many!).
IV. a habit
I love pinning places on google maps for future reference. Whether it’s a geologic site, an artwork, or a very specific fountain in a random town I want to visit someday, I’m pinning it. After amassing a bunch of pins in one area, I start planning trips around those sites. Currently planning a few trips to Austria, northern UK, Argentina, and the Southwest.
V. an artwork
"Wavespace" by Lachlan Turczan is an immersive installation that explores the fluid relationship between optics, acoustics, and hydrodynamics. The work uses cymatics—the science of visualizing sound waves—to shape water into dynamic patterns projected overhead. If you’re in Los Angeles or visiting soon, “Wavespace” is open to audiences for 1 hr long reservations through November 9th. People report visualizing anything from the beginning of life, to solar flares, to microscopic amoebas. It’s both meditative and intense at once in a way that reminds me of the “Perceptual Cell” by James Turrell.
BULLETIN
Los Angeles
On view: Olafur Eliasson: OPEN at MOCA. Nicholas Bierk’s The Beauty and the Horror at Overduin & Co. Rising Signs: The Medieval Science of Astrology at The Getty. Jane Dickson’s Are We There Yet? at Karma. Home Again, a two person show with John Divola and Megan Plunkett, at Timeshare. Koji Nakano Exhibition, new work by Koji Nakano, at CASTLE. Duncan Hannah’s Flesh and Fantasy at The Journal Gallery. Jenna Gribbon’s Like Looking in a Mirror and Fred Eversley’s Cylindrical Lenses at David Kordanky. Caitlin MacQueen’s Fascination at Hannah Hoffman. Aria Dean’s Facts Worth Knowing at Château Shatto. Group show L.A. Story at Hauser & Wirth featuring Ed Ruscha, Florian-Maier-Aichen, David Hockney, and more (curated by Steve Martin). Tahnee Lonsdale’s A Billion Tiny Moons at Night. At Home: Alice Neel in Queer World at David Zwirner. Willa Nasatir’s solo exhibition at Sea View. Eddie Martinez’s Homework at Blum. Objects for a Heavenly Cave at Marta featuring Lily Clark, Valentina Cameranesi Sgroi, Mr. Liz Hopkins and many more.
New York
On view: Jammie Hoolmes’ Morning Thoughts and Hannah van Bart’s Inner Homeland at Marianne Boesky. Paula Siebra’s As Primeiras Coisas at Mendes Wood DM. Eleanor Ray at Nicelle Beauchene. Ever Baldwin’s Stranger in the Echoes at Marinaro. Elizabeth Hohimer’s Rhythm Horizons and Roger Winter’s Manhattan Valley at Tara Downs. Edges of Ailey at the Whitney. Jake Longstreth at Pace Prints. Andie Dinkin’s Slippers Gold, Oysters Cold and Max Xeno Karnig’s The Scallop Shell at Half Gallery Annex. Blair Whiteford’s Garden of Infinite Foundation at Matthew Brown. Vince Skelly’s Play Sculptures at TIWA. Dike Blair and Manoucher Yektai’s Landscapes at Karma. Mitch Epstein’s Old Growth at Yancey Richardson. July Guzman’s Along the Line and Catherine Repko’s Hark at 1969 Gallery. Sophia Heymans’ Everything Dancing and Vincent Pocsik’s Paradise Never Bends at Shrine. Eli Ping’s Stamina at Clearing. Soumya Netrabile’s Holding Current at Rachel Uffner. Group show Across the Pond: Contemporary Painting in London featuring Max Wade, Emma Fineman, and more at Eric Firestone Gallery. Maris Van Vlack’s Time Warp at Superhouse.
Affection Archives is a weekly look into the archives of yours truly (Arielle Eshel) and people I admire. Follow on Instagram @AffectionArchives.
Love