In the 1960s, painter Nils-Udo turned to nature and began creating site-specific works using natural materials like leaves, berries, plants and twigs. His ephemeral creations are nature-inspired utopias that take on forms like colorful mounds of berries or giant, gnarled nests.

 

Nils-Udo is intrigued by the intersection of nature, art and reality, which is evident in this untitled piece that was part of the Earth Art Exhibit at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Canada. The grassy pathways to nowhere disappear into the trees, prompting viewers to contemplate their relationship with the natural world. Nils-Udo says that by “elevating the natural space to a work of art,” he was able to overcome “the gap between art and life.”