Maya Lin Artist between Heaven and Earth

Abstract

Thirty-five years ago, shortly after arriving in Washington, D.C. to pursue graduate studies, I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the first time. Walking down the sloping path, I was struck by the quiet force of the V-shaped descending wall: the way the polished granite held reflection and absence, and the earth seemed to open into a shared chamber of memory. Encircled by the circular path and framed by the Washington and Jefferson Memorials, the wall entered into a dialogue with its surroundings—sky and earth, past war and present moment.
Nearby lies a quiet lake bordered by gardens. I often crossed the small island at its center, known as Signers Island, to practice Tai Chi. Breathing within this open, contemplative space, I felt my move-ments begin to mirror the still water and the willows.