In his journals from his first expeditions in the Sierra Mountains, John Muir wrote, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”

The interconnectedness of our world stretches beyond our innate abilities and into the microscopic fabric of the earth. As Muir states, the molecular composition of one entity is dependent on the one next to it. The soil we walk on is the lifeline for the plants we observe, as it all resides on the same mass of earth, comprised of oceans, mountains, deserts, and even cities.

The Canadian artist Alice Wang plays off Muir’s beliefs in her first solo U.S. exhibition at the Vincent Price Art Museum. Through a critical examination of natural materials and topographies encountered on research trips to Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and across Iceland and the Arctic, Wang reduces her visual language to the hexagonal motif.

Wang creates intricate geological tapestries by scanning cross-sections of meteorites imbued with metaphysical properties, evoking serene landscapes akin to Martian vistas. Her photographs capture these celestial scenes, offering a glimpse into the uncharted surfaces of distant planets. Additionally, her works reveal microbial profiles resembling laboratory petri dishes transformed into artistic canvases adorned with gilded silver leaf. Along with sculptures scattered across the floor, these pieces shimmer and transform in light, echoing the delicate beauty of crystals amid changing environments. Through a convergence of scientific inquiry and philosophical reflection, Wang’s otherworldly themes in the exhibition provoke contemplation on our societal relationship with the yet-to-be-discovered realms of the universe.

In the center of the gallery, footage plays of Wang’s journeys, offering insights into her exploration of melding natural beauty with artistic expression. Through a deft weave of travel narratives, personal reflections, and familial narratives, the film portrays the body as a vessel for delving into physical landscapes and the profound depths of the human experience.

Wang’s exhibition contemplates the interplay between reality and imagination, navigating tensions between scientific rigor and humanity’s personalized perception of nature. Her artworks serve as portals for deep philosophical exploration, blurring constructed distinctions to explore where the known merges with the unknown and challenging the boundaries of human understanding in our role as inhabitants of Earth.