Artwork
Forest Devils' Moon Night
Forest Devils' Moon Night is a photographic photography by Kenneth Snelson. It dates from 1991 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This photo, *Forest Devils' Moon Night* by Kenneth Snelson, is a 1991 print of an imaginary landscape.
This photo, *Forest Devils' Moon Night* by Kenneth Snelson, is a 1991 print of an imaginary landscape. It shows four big sculptures copied from his real piece *Forest Devil* in Pittsburgh’s Mellon Square. Snelson built the scene on a computer, adding textures and shadows to make it feel real.
He calls this method “analogous to real sculpture.” It’s a cool mix of digital tools and old-school making.
Try looking up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
Kenneth Snelson’s 1991 photograph *Forest Devils’ Moon Night* presents a fabricated landscape populated by four monumental forms. The image is a digital construct rendered as a print, depicting imagined terrain under a nocturnal sky. Each of the four structures is a virtual replica of Snelson’s actual public sculpture *Forest Devil*, installed in Mellon Square, Pittsburgh.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes the tangible presence of the real‑world sculpture with an invented environment, inviting viewers to contemplate how context shapes perception. By placing the familiar forms in an alien setting, Snelson explores the relationship between object and space, suggesting that meaning can shift when a piece is removed from its original site.
Technique & Style
Snelson employed computer‑aided modeling to design the three‑dimensional scene, applying texture maps to the ground and employing ray‑tracing algorithms to generate realistic shadows. The resulting digital model was then output as a photographic print, merging contemporary digital processes with the traditional medium of photography.
History & Provenance
Created in 1991, the print reflects Snelson’s early experimentation with computer graphics as a sculptural tool. The original *Forest Devil* sculptures were installed in Mellon Square in the 1970s, and the photograph has since been held in several institutional collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
During the late 20th century, artists increasingly incorporated computer technology into visual practice. Snelson’s work aligns with this trend, extending his reputation as a sculptor of tension‑based structures into the realm of virtual space, and highlighting the dialogue between physical fabrication and digital simulation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kenneth Duane Snelson (June 29, 1927 – December 22, 2016) was an American contemporary sculptor and photographer.
