Hungarian-American artist Agnes Denes has reimagined her iconic Living Pyramid as the first unveiling of the Desert X 2025 exhibition. Located in the picturesque Sunnylands Center & Gardens in California’s Coachella Valley, this new installation highlights Denes’ focus on ecological themes and the passage of time.
A New Take on a Visionary Work
The Living Pyramid, initially showcased in 2015 at New York’s Socrates Sculpture Park, has been adapted for the desert landscape. This version features a stepped, tiered design filled with native Californian plants like cacti and desert flowers, replacing the grasses that adorned the original sculpture.
“This new work of The Living Pyramid is planted material, yet a new meaning,” Denes explained.
“Transformed into blossoms, the Pyramid renews itself as evolution does to our species. It is not just planting, but planting the paradox, a structured edifice of soil and grain, not on a farm or field but in the heart of a busy mega-city or various parts of our world. It is planting the seed into soil and human minds.”
A Reflection of Growth and Nature
The pyramid’s vegetation will sprout, bloom, wither, and regenerate over six months, symbolizing the natural cycle of growth and decay in the surrounding desert. Desert X organizers describe the project as a testament to nature’s organic processes, which evolve and interact with Denes’ structured creation.
Denes frequently incorporates the pyramid shape in her art, drawing inspiration from ecological and social paradigms. She elaborated:
“The pyramids appear in my work in a variety of forms, from the Snail Pyramid, Egg and Fish Pyramid to pyramids of thought processes, mathematics, forests, humanity, survival. These pyramids… represent social structures in the form of visual philosophy, conveying ecological, social and cultural issues with a purpose to answer humanity’s problems, issues of concern, and seek benign solutions.”
A Landmark for Desert X 2025
The Desert X biennial celebrates large-scale art installations that engage with the landscape of the Coachella Valley. Its fifth edition, set to run through 2025, aims to explore “nonlinear narratives of time” and features contributions from multiple international artists.
At 93 years old, Denes continues to leave a lasting impact on the world of art and environmentalism. She is renowned for her work, such as Wheatfield – A Confrontation, a 2.2-acre wheat field planted near the World Trade Center in 1982. Her contributions emphasize the intersection of art, ecology, and philosophy.
Looking Back: Desert X Highlights
Past Desert X exhibitions have seen innovative installations like towering shipping container sculptures and interactive trampoline puddles, including collaborations with international locations such as Saudi Arabia in 2020.
The Living Pyramid now stands as a key highlight of Desert X 2025, inviting visitors to engage with themes of growth, transformation, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.