In Alluvial Plain, Ron van der Ende’s latest series of bas-relief sculptures centers on landscapes, specifically alluvial plains formed by the slow accumulation of river sediments. Van der Ende’s unique approach involves crafting intricate scenes from salvaged wood, creating richly textured surfaces that resemble geological formations. This body of work spans four years and incorporates themes of human intervention, environmental transformation, and the passage of time, moving from ancient natural formations to recent human impacts on the land.
The exhibition includes bas-reliefs of iconic sites, such as Jericho, which portrays a tree stump with echoes of both natural and human history. Named after the ancient city and site of human civilization, Jericho embodies the passage from prehistory to the rise of human culture, linking the growth of societies to the exploitation of nature. His works like Landwasser, based on the historic Landwasser Viaduct, celebrate human achievement while subtly critiquing the impact of industrial progress on nature. This duality is further highlighted in 1953, a series commemorating the Dutch flood disaster, which reminds viewers of both human resilience and vulnerability to the forces of nature.
With Alluvial Plain, Van der Ende reflects on the ways in which nature and humanity intersect, creating powerful images of resilience and loss. His sculptures not only invite viewers to appreciate the beauty of raw materials but also to consider the environmental consequences of human ambition, prompting reflection on the evolving relationship between humans and the landscapes they inhabit. Each piece is a carefully crafted reminder of the timeless interplay between nature’s rhythms and the marks we leave on the world.