CENTRAL WHARF PARK
Claudia Comte
Five Marble Leaves, 2022
The marvel of nature in an urban setting.
Swiss artist Claudia Comte has long been inspired by the wonders of nature. Her love of flora and fauna from different environments has resulted in magnificent sculptures in the form of cacti, coral, and leaves. Inspired by the 24 pin and red oak trees inhabiting Central Wharf Park, she developed this new body of work, Five Marble Leaves. The enlarged leaves are the product of Comte’s study of the varieties of oak in the park. The oak leaves’ “star-like” shape led to totemic yet whimsical sculptures carved from Carrara marble.
The five works are rendered in various engaging forms and placed along the path to the Boston waterfront as if they had fallen from the trees. The works reflect the seasonal cycle of leaves, falling in autumn and growing back in spring. Leading the viewer to reflect upon a woodland environment, the installation highlights the often-overlooked miracle of nature. The five sculptures are complemented by six marble plaques bearing fragments of quotes by leading environmental activists such as David Attenborough, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Greta Thunberg, and Paul Watson.
Recognizing that humans are above all emotional beings, Comte combines sentiment, play, and information to help engender love for nature and the environment. The lively sculptures are intended to rouse a warm, affectionate response toward nature. The artist welcomes the public to lay on, touch, and feel the works while nearby plaques bearing quotes by noted environmentalists highlight human interdependence with the natural world and the severity of the environmental crisis. Together, the quotes and sculptures provoke a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Find fragments of quotes inspired by leading environmental activists scattered throughout the park and share your thoughts with #5marbleleavesBOS.
“The natural world is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” — David Attenborough
“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” — Greta Thunberg
“Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in harmony with its environment.” — Paul Watson
“Each of us can contribute with our votes, our voices, our food choices, our skills and our dollars.” — Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
“In nature, nothing exists alone.” — Rachel Carson
“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.” — Jane Goodall
LOCATION
Central Wharf Park
Curated by Pedro Alonzo
CENTRAL WHARF PARK
Claudia Comte
Claudia Comte’s artwork has captivated art critics and the public in solo and group shows all over the world, including Berlin, Geneva, Copenhagen, Madrid, London, Vienna, and New York City. A native of Switzerland (b. 1983), she has long been inspired by her interest in the memory of materials and by a careful observation of how the hand relates to different technologies. Growing up near a forest, she has been surrounded by trees since her earliest days. As a child, she visited the Grand Canyon, becoming enamored with desert landscapes, and as an avid scuba diver, she developed a fondness for undersea environs. Her love of exotic flora and fauna from different environments has resulted in her creation of dramatic, vibrant sculptures in the form of cacti, corals, and leaves.
Comte studied at the Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne, ECAL (2004-2007), followed by a Masters of Art in Science of Education at Haute Ecole Pédagogique, Visual Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland (2008-2010). Her body of work is best known for her site-specific installations. The artist's practice is guided by a distinct rule-measurement system of her own creation, wherein each artwork specifically relates to one another. Comte's minimalist approach to art making is equal parts methodical and dynamic; works are infused with a distinct sense of playfulness. Her artistic output incorporates a diverse range of mediums from sculpture, to painting, to various multimedia installations.
Comte has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions including; Desert X AlUla, Saudi Arabia (2022), Tree Line Curve, Rolex Learning Center, EPFL Lausanne (2021), The Dreamers, 58th October Salon - Belgrade Biennale (SB), After Nature, Museo Nacional Thyssen - Bornemisza, Madrid (2021), Jungle and Corals, König Galerie, Berlin (2021), The Sea of Darkness, Kunstraum Dornbirn (2020); How to Grow and Still Stay the Same Shape, Castello di Rivoli (2019), Fruits and Jungle, König Galerie, London (2019), I have Grown Taller from Standing with Trees, Copenhagen Contemporary (2019), The Morphing Scallops, Gladstone Gallery, 24th St, New York City (2019), Zigzags and Diagonals, MOCA Cleveland (2018), Swiss Performance Now, Kunsthalle Basel (2018), KölnSkulpture #9, Köln (2017), La Ligne Claire, Basement Roma (2017), NOW I WON, Messeplatz, Art Basel (2017), 10 Rooms, 40 Walls, 1059 m2, Kunstmuseum Luzern (2017), Desert X, Palm Springs, Catch The Tail By The Tiger, König Galerie, Berlin (2016), The Language of Things, with the Public Art Fund, New York (2016), NO MELON NO LEMON, Gladstone Gallery, New York (2015), Easy Heavy III, Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich (2014), Sharp Sharp at David Dale Gallery, Glasgow (2014), If I were a rabbit, where would I keep my gloves?, BolteLang (2013) and Elevation 1049, Gstaad (2013).