The Lightning Field (TLF)

The Lightning Field (TLF, 1977) by the American land-artist and sculptor Walter De Maria is situated in a remote area of the high desert of New Mexico southwest of Albuquerque. It is comprised of 400 polished stainless steel poles installed in a grid array measuring one mile by one kilometer. The poles - two inches in diameter and about 20 feet in height - are spaced 220 feet apart and have solid pointed tips. The plane of the tips would evenly support an imaginary sheet of glass. The sculpture can be walked in as well as viewed, especially during sunset and sunrise.

“Because of the sky-ground relationship is central to the work viewing TLF from the air is of no value.”

“During the mid-portion of the day 70 - 90 % of the poles become virtually invisible due to the high angle of the sun.”

“No photograph, group of photographs or other recorded images can completely represent TLF.”