Andy Goldsworthy's Pebble Circle

Andy Goldsworthy created this set by collecting pebbles in various shades of white and grey. He placed the lightest shades in the center, creating a black circle in the middle which symbolizes looking within the earth from the surface. As the viewer withdraws from the black hole, the pebbles gradually change from a clean white to a sooty grey with milky and mid-tone greys in between.

The black hole in the center of the pebble circle appears deeper; it recedes into the dirt below offering a gaze into the world beneath. Goldsworthy is an open environmentalist who incorporates nature into this work through manipulation of her collective wonders. The hole in the center of this circle is a frequent theme used by Goldsworthy which recurs within leaf circles, branches, and flowers. Personally, the hole seems to indicate the circular life of nature. Goldsworthy wants the viewer the fall into this black hole with him for the purpose of environmental awareness and activism.

The circle of pebbles is situated in the center of the photograph; however, the pebbles near the top of the photo appear larger than those close to the bottom of the frame. Since Goldsworthy was always careful in his composition and placement of items, the reason for this weight issue cannot be that he ran out of rocks. Rather, Goldsworthy wished for the top rocks to be larger in size and darker in shade. One possible explanation for this might be connected with nature’s imbalance and the idea of survival of the fittest – the rich get richer while the poor remain weak. The animals at the top of the food chain are usually given more attention and weight of importance. Another feasible reason for this uneven top-bottom balance could be Goldsworthy’s desire to leave the swirls in the dirt uncovered.

These swirls add interest to the picture by introducing change to the stock gradation of the pebbles. The earthy tan and beige colors contrast with the whites and greys of the pebbles, while the ground seems to have shades of grey mixed into it as well, complimenting the rocks and adding a depth to the photo. There is equal space and mud surrounding the pebble circle’s edges, but Goldsworthy chose to leave some wet sticks on the dirt in the top left hand corner of the set. These pieces of bark increase the diversity of the photo, contrasting with the swirls of dust and moist soil.