Monuments III by GreenART by Hubert Fenzl

A glowing memorial in the name of nature.
With the photograph ‘Monuments III’ from my ongoing GreenART series, I shine a spotlight on the existential threat facing our forests. The towering, tree-like stelae stand as silent witnesses in a landscape marked by an almost apocalyptic transformation.
The work draws its power from the deep, ambivalent symbolism of the colour gold:
• Symbol of greed: It represents humanity’s insatiable drive for prosperity, profit and wealth, to which vast areas of forest worldwide are falling victim through deforestation and exploitation. Nature is commodified in the name of profit – and thereby destroyed.
• Symbol of inestimable value: At the same time, the golden texture reverses this meaning into its opposite. It declares the remaining fragments of nature to be our most precious asset. The living forest is humanity’s true treasure in the fight against climate change.
The intense, reddish-orange lighting in the photograph makes global warming and the relentless heat of our times immediately palpable. The scene is reminiscent of the shimmering heat of droughts and the devastating blaze of forest fires.
“Monuments III” captivates the viewer with an almost mystical, aesthetic beauty – whilst at the same time confronting them with an urgent call to protect our planet. A powerful statement piece for any space, combining the enjoyment of art with environmental awareness.