At the core of Peter von Tiesenhausen’s artistic practice is a profound belief in the capacity for art to generate dialogue which in turn builds community. In that regard, the act of burying the bust is rich on many levels.

On an international level, it connects to his public art projects and to communities that he has engaged around the world including Vermont, Vancouver, Jacksonville Wyoming, northern Alberta and Prince George B.C. where von Tiesenhausen will be producing a major piece of public art as part of the 2010 Olympics.

By burying the piece, the imagination is set free while at the same time, as its name suggests, becomes an anchor for a variety of things. The stories, the connections, the myth and legend will continue to grow and as such, the work will remain relevant. While the interpretations and stories connected to the burial of Mooring will shift and change over time, the intention behind the burial was in the act of planting a seed for a new imagination for the future.

von Tiesenhausen is highly regarded for his environmental and site specific works which include carved wood sculptures, drawings and videos. David Liss, the Director/Curator of MOCCA points out in an article in Canadian Art (summer 2001, v.18.2), that “with his use of primarily organic materials and his frequent practice of abandoning his outdoor sculptures to the forces of nature, his work is frequently read as eco-art. However, this is to be only partly the case, since his themes probe the intrinsic relationships between humans and nature”.