Stone balance

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Stone Balance (Engl. Skirt balancing ) refers to a performing arts , in which stones so up or be placed against each other to balance it. Like other balancing acts, the structure sometimes only lasts a few seconds, so that one can also speak of ephemeral art.

description

Rock balancing takes place e.g. B. as performing arts in front of an audience (also as a hands-on event), but can also be carried out alone and is usually captured photographically if the structure lasts long enough.

Stone balance is also used as a form of meditation through the required patience and a sense of creativity, without the works being captured in the picture.

Balancing stones is a special form of land art that is common all over the world. It can also be found in Buddhist temples, in Japanese cemeteries and on streets, with the Inuit , on Maui and on Hawaii , without any artistic claim . As signposts or ceremonial signs, stacked stones are used as cairns in different cultures.

criticism

The practice of stone stacking is viewed critically in several ways. The stacked stones can be mistaken for official waymarks ( cairns ) by hikers . Existing waymarks were also destroyed in order to build piles of stones.

For reasons of nature conservation, you should refrain from building stacks of stones. Removing and moving stones, for example, contributes to soil erosion , which among other things affects plants. The habitat of animals that seek refuge under the stones and reproduce is also destroyed. The international trend towards stacking stones is reinforced by social media such as Instagram . Reckless or ignorant tourists also put endangered species in further distress.

Basic styles

  • Stacking - stones are stacked to the maximum height
  • Classic Balance - stones are placed in balance one on top of the other
  • Balance balance - one or more stones hold an underlying stone in its position with their weight
  • Arch balance - several stones are pressed together in the arch and thus hold their position; similar to the architecture of old stone bridges
  • Freestyle - mix of different styles

  • Stacked stones

  • Classic balance, four balanced stones by Pascal Fiechter

  • Balance balance of the advanced kind by Leandro Inocencio

  • Stone arch, balanced by Pascal Fiechter

  • Freestyle balance by Lila Higgins

Stone balance artist

  • Andy Goldsworthy , English country artist who was also inspired by balancing stones.
  • Bill Dan, artist based in San Francisco. His works can be found under and near the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Gabriele Meneguzzi, famous Land Art artist and winner of various competitions on an international level.
  • Gilles Charrot, French balancer known as "The Man Who Whispers to the Stones".
  • John Félice Ceprano, Canadian artist and photographer.
  • Josef Bögle , stone balance artist in Radolfzell
  • Michael Grab, professional rock balancing artist since 2008.
  • Nadine Fourrè, French artist who puts the aesthetics of form at the center of her work. It combines the balance between stones and wood materials.
  • Pascal Fiechter , photographer and land artist for more than a decade. Balancing stones, nature and travel photography are the focus.
  • Peter Juhl, visual and balance artist, who has organized hands-on events all over the world.
  • Richard Shilling, English artist with exhibitions at land art events.
  • Stefan Fischer, stone balance artist since 2014, lives in Hamburg.

literature

  1. ^ A b Marissa Fessenden: Conservationists Want You to Stop Building Rock Piles. In: Smithsonian Magazine . July 15, 2015, accessed May 19, 2020 .
  2. ↑ How the #rockstacking Instagram trend is putting endangered species at risk. In: ABC News . January 16, 2020, accessed May 19, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Francine Toder, Ph D. Author, The Vintage Years: Finding Your Innter Artist After Sixty: How One Man Found His Balancing Act. July 27, 2013, accessed February 8, 2017 .
  4. ↑ Mart: Gilles Charrot, "l'homme qui murmure à l'oreille des pierres". - Vosges-passion . In: Vosges-passion . ( martineschnoering.com [accessed February 8, 2017]).
  5. ↑ Ottawa Ambassadors - John Felice Ceprano . In: Ottawa Tourism . ( ottawatourism.ca [accessed February 8, 2017]).
  6. ↑ The Secret Behind How This Guy Balances Rocks Is Very Unusual. Can You Guess It? In: LifeBuzz . 2014 ( lifebuzz.com ).

Web links

Commons : Rock balancing  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files