2.1 Early environmental art and nature-based practices

Early environmental art emerged in the 1960s, challenging traditional art spaces. Land artists created monumental works in remote locations, reshaping landscapes and using natural materials. This movement sparked debates about human intervention in nature.

Nature-based practices followed, focusing on ecological systems and environmental issues. Artists like Andy Goldsworthy and Agnes Denes used natural materials to create temporary works, raising awareness about sustainability and our relationship with the environment.

Land Art and Earthworks

Large-Scale Environmental Interventions

Top images from around the web for Large-Scale Environmental Interventions

• 

  Troyville Earthworks - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Creative Visual Art | Environmental art installations View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artist Has Spent 7 Years Turning UK Forests Into Works Of Art View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Troyville Earthworks - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Creative Visual Art | Environmental art installations View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Large-Scale Environmental Interventions

• 

  Troyville Earthworks - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Creative Visual Art | Environmental art installations View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artist Has Spent 7 Years Turning UK Forests Into Works Of Art View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Troyville Earthworks - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Creative Visual Art | Environmental art installations View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Land art emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a movement using natural landscapes as artistic mediums
• Artists created monumental works directly in and from the environment, often in remote locations
• Earthworks involve reshaping the land itself, using earth, rocks, and other natural materials to create sculptures
• Site-specific art integrates with and responds to the particular location where it is installed
• Environmental sculpture incorporates natural elements and settings into three-dimensional artworks

Pioneering Artists and Notable Works

• Robert Smithson's "Spiral Jetty" (1970) exemplifies land art, consisting of a 1,500-foot coil extending into Utah's Great Salt Lake
• Michael Heizer's "Double Negative" (1969) created two massive trenches in the Nevada desert, displacing 240,000 tons of rock
• Nancy Holt's "Sun Tunnels" (1973-1976) features four large concrete cylinders aligned with solar movements in Utah's Great Basin Desert
• Walter De Maria's "The Lightning Field" (1977) comprises 400 stainless steel poles arranged in a grid in New Mexico

Artistic Intentions and Environmental Impact

• Land artists often aimed to challenge traditional notions of art, moving beyond gallery and museum spaces
• Many works explored the relationship between human intervention and natural processes
• Some projects raised awareness about environmental issues and humanity's impact on landscapes
• Critics debated the environmental ethics of large-scale alterations to natural settings
• Over time, land art has influenced eco-art and other environmentally conscious artistic practices

Nature-Based Practices

Eco-Art and Environmental Engagement

• Eco-art emerged in the 1970s focusing on ecological systems and environmental issues
• Artists collaborate with scientists, ecologists, and communities to create works addressing sustainability
• Nature-based art utilizes natural materials and processes as primary components of artistic creation
• These practices often emphasize ephemeral or temporary works that evolve or decay over time
• Many eco-artists aim to raise awareness about environmental challenges and promote conservation

Prominent Artists and Their Approaches

• Andy Goldsworthy creates temporary sculptures using leaves, ice, twigs, and other natural materials
• Goldsworthy's works (Rowan Leaves and Hole) highlight the beauty and impermanence of nature
• Richard Long's art involves walking through landscapes and subtly rearranging natural elements
• Long's "A Line Made by Walking" (1967) marked a path in grass by repeatedly walking back and forth
• Agnes Denes planted and harvested two acres of wheat on a landfill near Wall Street for "Wheatfield - A Confrontation" (1982)

Techniques and Themes in Nature-Based Art

• Artists often document their temporary works through photography or video
• Many practitioners emphasize the process of creation as much as the final product
• Themes include cycles of growth and decay, human-nature relationships, and ecological interconnectedness
• Some artists integrate performance or participatory elements into their nature-based works
• These practices frequently blur the lines between art, environmental activism, and scientific inquiry

Environmental Awareness and Ethics

Ecological Aesthetics and Artistic Responses

• Environmental awareness in art reflects growing concerns about human impact on the planet
• Ecological aesthetics explores how artistic practices can engage with and represent environmental systems
• Artists increasingly incorporate scientific data and research into their work to visualize environmental issues
• Many practitioners aim to foster emotional connections to nature through their art
• Artistic responses to climate change include works addressing rising sea levels, deforestation, and species extinction

Ethical Considerations in Environmental Art

• Environmental ethics examines moral relationships between humans and the natural environment
• Artists grapple with questions of sustainability and responsibility in their use of materials and landscapes
• Some eco-artists focus on restoration projects, actively improving degraded ecosystems through their work
• Debates arise over the potential environmental impact of large-scale environmental art projects
• Many practitioners advocate for "leave no trace" approaches, creating temporary or biodegradable works

Art in the Age of the Anthropocene

• The Anthropocene concept refers to the current geological epoch shaped by human activity
• Artists explore themes of human-induced environmental change and its global consequences
• Works address issues such as pollution, habitat loss, and the interconnectedness of human and natural systems
• Some artists create speculative or futuristic visions of post-Anthropocene landscapes
• Interdisciplinary collaborations between artists, scientists, and policymakers aim to address complex environmental challenges