Tropical South America 15s 70w

Creative Rationale

Over the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia, where extreme altitude creates unusually low atmospheric pressure, this composition reflects the sparse, crystalline air of the altiplano. The exceptionally low pressure (634.4 Pa) manifests as larger, more expansive calligraphic gestures that breathe across the canvas, while the near-freezing temperature and moderate humidity create silvery-white marks floating against a deep blue-black ground. The gentle wind from the northwest weaves these marks into flowing networks that suggest both the microscopic dance of air molecules in thin atmosphere and the spiritual luminosity Tobey found in his meditative practice.