Tim Lewis: The Forest Visits
by Alice Zucca
The exhibition “The Forest Visits” at Flowers Gallery unveils Tim Lewis’s latest collection of zoomorphic creations. Each kinetic sculpture within this showcase is a meticulous fusion of repurposed found objects and industrial materials, offering an entrancing doorway into surrealistic encounters between the organic and the manufactured.
At the epicenter of this artistic extravaganza stands the mesmerizing centerpiece, “The Forest Visits.” This pivotal creation breathes life into two discarded Christmas trees, transmuting them into an altered hybrid entity adorned with the head of an Echidna. Dynamic and responsive to the viewer’s presence, the sculpture awakens into animated existence, emitting a melodic chime that acts as a mysterious summons, enticing observers into a contemplative embrace.
Lewis’s creative vision draws inspiration from the vast expanse of science fiction’s imaginative realms, reminiscent of the literary genius espoused by luminaries like Philip K. Dick and Stanislaw Lem. Yet, amidst these speculative vistas of the future, the exhibition tethers itself to the present, weaving the harsh realities of human-generated plastics strewn across ocean floors with contemplations on nature’s enduring resilience amid environmental upheavals in “Sargasso Sea Floor.”
The artist’s adept manipulation of inorganic elements, including laminated resin, discarded coat hangers, rods, and wires, infuses vitality into his sculptures, seamlessly mirroring the graceful motions inherent in both human and animal forms. “Die Hacke” (‘The Hoe’) intertwines notions of cultivation and our perception of nature, symbolizing humanity’s intricate relationship with the Earth. Furthermore, Lewis introduces the concept of miscommunication, attributing the mechanical creature’s gestures to a quest for retrieving lost signals from the airwaves, hinting at the intricate interconnectedness between humankind and the environment.
In “Serpent,” an imposing mechanical rendition of a crimson snake, Lewis ingeniously constructs the creature’s body using composite sliding parts, evoking a fluid, hypnotic motion that dissolves into an endless loop. This ephemeral quality encapsulates what Lewis terms a “half-dream,” interlacing fleeting fragments of memory with visionary glimpses of the future.
Beyond showcasing Lewis’s artistic prowess, the exhibition becomes a philosophical expedition, prompting introspection on the delicate interplay between human intervention and the natural world. It provokes contemplation on the transient and enduring facets of existence, inviting the audience on a transformative journey that transcends the confines of the gallery walls. Lewis’s masterful creations weave an immersive narrative where imagination converges with reality, eliciting profound reflections on our evolving relationship with a perpetually changing world.
TIM LEWIS, THE FOREST VISITS at Flowers gallery, London
21 Cork Street, London W1S 3LZ
on view from 30th November 2023 until 6th January, 2024
