The effect that nature can have on our thoughts, emotions and ultimately our actions is a powerful thing. Of course this is what makes nature so astounding. Typically we think of the effects as a positive thing but what about the opposite – what about fear or even anger turning to violence?
Here in the Pacific Northwest, our forests are notorious for beautiful sunrays shining through evergreens that quickly give way to creepy, dripping and dark spaces covered in a low mist. One minute there is that feeling as if you could spend all day in that dun-drenched spot and then suddenly you can’t get inside fast enough.
Taking this to an extreme, I recall the Lars van Trier film Antichrist that was both the most intense movie I’ve seen in awhile as well as absolutely stunning cinematography. However, while I personally thought this movie was brilliant, don’t watch this if you’re not a fan of dark and extremely graffic psychodramas – just enjoy the clip at the bottom of this post.
Without analyzing the movie or going beyond the topic of how nature plays with our emotions, I just wanted to point out the power that nature has in this film and on the actors. The deep gut-wrenching emotional and sometimes suspensful scenes were perfectly paired with sound to bring out the most in the imagery.
But I will leave it at that and just let you enjoy what I think is one of the best clips of all time because I don’t want to spoil the movie for those who do want to see it.
The clip from movie below plays out the mental journey to a cabin in the woods they call Eden and the power that nature has on Her. She was at Eden before and He is trying to help her confront her fear of the outdoors.
I didn’t know where I was or how I had arrived. The room was hazy and a musty smell filled the air as if no one had set foot in this place for years. It was mostly dark except for a dim glow slipping out from under an old wooden door at the other side. I wondered what the room had been like and who had worked here. Most of the furniture had been removed except for a few scattered chairs and some large objects I couldn’t quite make out.
Perhaps there would be someone in the other room. I walked over and opened the door, not sure what to expect. The room was bathed in a yellow glow and it was deserted. Old office furniter was strewn about haphazardly…desks, chairs, file cabinets…all unused and covered in dust. There were some lights hanging from the ceiling and a couple desk lamps, all of which were on. For some reason I felt compelled to touch one just a few feet in front of me. It was an exposed bulb just hanging from the ceiling with a tattered black chord.
As soon as my finger touched the glass, it stuck for a moment and then when I pulled it away it was as though I had unplugged a whole. Molten glass oozed out and slowly poured out down onto the desk, flowing freely over the surface and down the side, filling up the drawers. It was beautiful. I went around and touched all the others, setting them free. The room overflowed with glowing glass as it dripped down old cabinets and chairs.
This was a dream I had some time ago, so you can imagine my surprise when I looked at Dezeen and found the images of an exhibit in Milan by Dutch designer Pieke Bergmans who seems to have brought my dream to reality! The lighting pieces are part of her Design Virus series and are made of hand-blown bulbs containing LEDs. The designer described them as being infected…“These symptoms are unique, their phenomena unpredictable. The Light Blubs accepting their fate and the pull of gravity.”
