Pine Forest III

About Nathaniel Merz

In his large-format artworks, Nathaniel Merz captures the immense power of Korean forests, pointing out the symbolic significance of the pine tree. The evergreen is ever-present in Korean culture and deeply traditional. Pine branches are used to ward off impurity and protect newborns. On holidays, traditional dishes are prepared with pine bark. The meditative photographs put us right in the thick of the forest, where we can hear the breeze, smell the damp grass, and let our minds wander into the realm of the carefree that only exists in open nature. With the bending trunks and strong backlighting that comes through between them, a mysterious calm is created. The tree silhouettes make the… Read more