In his sculptures, interventions and installations, Matouš Lipus deals with important issues related to man and nature, the environment and coexistence in a unique style full of metaphors, symbols and hybrid figurative figures. His works reflect a relationship and interest in environmental transmission, deep ecology and postnature.
The subtle, but structurally and materially expressive sculpture Jizera Enti - alias the Shepherd of Trees - reveals the community of forests, plants, and other ways of coming together with entities other than human beings. Although his observers are human most of the time, Jizersky Enti can also be admired by other entities - insects, birds, trees of which he is almost a part, the fluff that flies by, or other plants. Perhaps the name reminds you of the famous English writer J.R.R. Tolkien, and you are not far from the truth - the name Enti comes from the pen of the master of the Lord of the Rings, whose famous story reflects the balance of good and evil in the world. Perhaps that famous story comes at a time when the world is once again in turmoil when when the balance of humanity and nature is in disharmony. The language of the Ents was said to be very complex, swaying, prone to repetition and taking a long time to express. Indeed, each word already contained a whole unique story. It resembled the rustling of trees, the babbling of water in a brook, the cracking of logs, or the subtle falling of leaves. All the sounds of the forest come to mind. And because of that, they were given the mission to protect all plant life, because as we know, plants that don't speak our language are easily destroyed because they can't defend themselves.
The tree man is thus a figure who mingles with the other creatures in the forest, listens and changes our perspective on how we can see or how we actually view the world. The work that appears in our garden - the place between nature and society, between public and private space, inside and outside - encourages us to explore more closely the realms of other senses than those through which humans traditionally communicate.
It requires effort to pause and listen to the sounds around us near the trees. To hear beyond hearing, to see beyond sight, and to perceive beyond touch and smell. To become the link between humanity and the tree. To be alone. To be with oneself. In this present moment, we will understand the language of Jizera Enti, and our story will endure forever.
