Devin Farrand
Horizon (Evergreen), 2023
Anodized aluminum and yellow zinc plated steel
47.25 x 48.5 x 1 in
120 x 123.2 x 2.5 cm
Hot, freshly rolled steel emerges from an industrial press with carbon layers on the top and bottom, which acts as a protective barrier for the metal. When dipped in acid, the carbon layer shield is stripped, leaving behind a vertical striped pattern that resembles tree bark, and acts as a “fingerprint” of the making of the steel. Summoning to mind the dense evergreen forests surrounding the artist’s Idaho home, Horizon (Evergreen) (2023) uses multiple industrial techniques to capture the energy of a walk in the woods. Farrand’s use of yellow zinc plating reflects the dissonance created when witnessing something beautiful in nature then attempting to represent it with words or images.