An architect and theatre designer by profession, Anne Patterson is a rather sensitive artist who believes in her sensory intuitions while designing. Her work is known worldwide owing to her courageous and beautiful installations that leave a lasting impact on the viewers. Simple and stunning experiments and experiences go hand in hand in Anne’s work that leaves the viewers curious and inspired.

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She says she has synaesthesia, wherein stimulation of one sense leads to involuntary experiences in another. She says, “I see an incredible magnificence of colours and shapes when I hear music…”, and her work rightly reflects that. Nature has been a prime inspiration to her, through which she tries to invoke sensuality in each of her works.

Pathless Woods is one such vibrant and colourful communicative installation by Anne put up at The Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota FL. Composer Michael Gandolfi’s “Garden of Cosmic Speculation” has inspired her to create this work. Pathless Woods is a representation of  how she sees and imagines blue and green stripes around a red centre when she listens to music.

Ropes hung diagonally on the ceiling, a glance before the final stage.

Satin ribbons that the visitor brushes past to experience touch and movement through the installation.

To bring this to life, she collaborated with projection designer Adam Larsen and scent artist Beau Rhee to enhance the senses of sight, sound and touch. Anne had many enthusiastic helping hands in erecting ‘Pathless Woods’ at the museum. 8,472 individual strands of 18-feet-long satin ribbons were attached to 120 ropes and hung diagonally across the ceiling of the gallery. 2400sft of space filled in entirety, only 6 feet path was left raw.

On touching the ribbons one gets to feel the smooth, seamless and teasing texture of satin. The experience is further elevated by adding a video projection of swaying branches, falling rain and rushing water on the satin ribbons along with a gentle fragrance of pine and fir crates by Rhee, reminding one of walking in the woods. An experience that evokes emotion, memory and a palpable experience.