Deep in the woods of southern France, artist Spencer Byles transformed the forest into a mysterious wonderland through a series of spectacular, organic sculptures. Byles spent a year immersed in the woodlands of La Colle sur Loup, Villeneuve-Loubet, and Mougins for this ambitious project. Surrounded by flora and fauna, the sculptor used only cables and natural, found materials to create his stunning, large-scale works of art.
According to Byles, many people come across his sculptures by chance in the woods. Met with the sight of towering, woven structures and suspended symbols made of twined branches, the viewer may question whether the mysterious installations were formed naturally, assembled by human hands, or left in the forest by supernatural forces.
The ephemeral nature of Byles' creations is integral to his work, as each piece exists in its completed state for only as long as the elements permit. The sculptor says, “The temporary nature of my sculptures is an important aspect of my experiences and understanding. I feel my sculptures are only really completed when nature begins to take hold again and gradually weave its way back into the materials. At this point it slowly becomes part of nature again and less a part of me.”
