Two Running Violet V Forms

Two Running Violet V Forms (photo by Steven Chavez)

Artist Robert Irwin's Two Running Violet V Forms were installed in 1983 on the campus of the University of California San Diego. They are in a eucalyptus grove with several walking paths that connect different areas of the university. The artwork is Irwin's first permanent installation in California and is part of the Stuart Collection, which includes works by several artists that are placed throughout the UC San Diego campus.    

Initially the artwork can be ambiguous. The violet panels appear as geometrical man-made forms placed in contrast to a naturally occurring landscape. This is conveyed by the visual contrasts between the synthetic materials of the panels, and the natural unevenness seen in the trunks, branches and leaves of the trees. However, the eucalyptus trees are not native to the region and were planted like the panels in a geometrical grid pattern. The artwork ultimately aids in revealing that both the panels and the trees are results of man-made environmental interventions.

Light also plays a role in the artwork. The panels are flecked when the sun is filtered through the eucalyptus leaves, and appear transparent when unfiltered perpendicular light reaches them. On cloudy days, the panels gain density and are a concentrated blue-violet.

Flecked with Light (photo by Steven Chavez)

Nearly Transparent (photo by Steven Chavez)

Saturated in Color (photo by Steven Chavez)

The two running forms are inserted into the grove in V-shapes and are carried by twenty five feet tall stainless steel posts. The screens are made of blue-violet plastic coated tight gauged chain link fencing. They are placed at a constant elevation, which differentiates the gently sloping terrain beneath them. Magenta flowering iceplant is planted linearly along the dripline of the panels.

V-Formed Panels (photo by Steven Chavez)

The artwork is viewed by path users that cross the grove to reach their campus destinations. The panels are never obstructions for walkers as they are placed high above the ground. Their occurrence provides a continually shifting display of visual interest that ranges from their near disappearance to their robust stripes of running color.