10.6 Environmental art

Environmental art emerged in the late 1960s as artists moved beyond galleries to create works in nature. This movement reflected growing ecological awareness and challenged traditional art concepts by integrating landscapes and environmental processes.

Key characteristics include site-specific installations, use of natural materials, and exploration of human-nature relationships. Artists like Robert Smithson and Andy Goldsworthy pioneered techniques for working with landscapes, influencing future generations of environmental artists.

Origins of environmental art

• Emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as artists sought to create works outside traditional gallery spaces
• Reflected growing ecological awareness and critique of consumer culture in post-war society
• Challenged conventional notions of art by integrating natural landscapes and environmental processes

Influence of land art

Top images from around the web for Influence of land art

• 

  Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty – Everything you need to know View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  artechachi: Land Art View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty – Everything you need to know View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  artechachi: Land Art View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Influence of land art

• 

  Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty – Everything you need to know View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  artechachi: Land Art View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty – Everything you need to know View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  artechachi: Land Art View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• Pioneered by artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer who created monumental earthworks
• Emphasized the use of natural materials and landscapes as artistic mediums
• Explored concepts of scale, impermanence, and human intervention in nature
• Notable works include Smithson's "Spiral Jetty" (1970) and Heizer's "Double Negative" (1969-1970)

Ecological awareness in 1960s

• Sparked by Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (1962) which exposed environmental dangers of pesticides
• Influenced by countercultural movements and growing skepticism of industrial progress
• Led to the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, marking increased public environmental consciousness
• Artists began addressing ecological issues through their work, critiquing human impact on nature

Key characteristics

• Integrates art with natural environments, often created outside traditional gallery spaces
• Emphasizes the relationship between humans and nature, exploring ecological themes
• Frequently incorporates elements of performance, documentation, and audience participation

Site-specific installations

• Created for and responding to particular locations, often in remote or natural settings
• Utilize the unique characteristics of a site, including topography, climate, and local materials
• May involve altering the landscape or introducing temporary structures
• Examples include Nancy Holt's "Sun Tunnels" (1973-1976) in Utah desert and Walter De Maria's "The Lightning Field" (1977) in New Mexico

Natural materials vs artificial

• Many environmental artists prioritize use of natural, found materials (rocks, soil, plants)
• Some incorporate man-made elements to create contrast or highlight human impact
• Tension between natural and artificial reflects broader environmental debates
• Artists like Andy Goldsworthy work exclusively with natural materials, while others like Nils-Udo combine natural and artificial elements

Ephemeral vs permanent works

• Some environmental artworks are designed to be temporary, degrading over time
• Others are intended as lasting interventions in the landscape
• Ephemeral works often document natural processes or seasonal changes
• Permanent works may alter landscapes significantly, raising questions about long-term environmental impact

Pioneering environmental artists

• Established environmental art as a significant movement in contemporary art
• Developed innovative techniques for working with natural materials and landscapes
• Influenced subsequent generations of artists exploring ecological themes

Robert Smithson's earthworks

• Created monumental sculptures using earth, rocks, and water
• Most famous work "Spiral Jetty" (1970) constructed in Great Salt Lake, Utah
• Explored concepts of entropy and geological time in his artworks
• Wrote influential essays on site-specificity and non-sites in art

Andy Goldsworthy's nature sculptures

• Creates delicate, often ephemeral sculptures using only natural materials
• Works closely with natural processes, such as tide patterns or seasonal changes
• Meticulously documents his temporary creations through photography
• Notable works include "Ice Star" (1987) and "Roof" (2004-2005) at the National Gallery of Art

Christo and Jeanne-Claude's wrappings

• Collaborative duo known for large-scale, temporary environmental installations
• Wrapped buildings, landscapes, and objects in fabric to transform perception
• Notable projects include "The Gates" (2005) in Central Park and "Surrounded Islands" (1983) in Biscayne Bay
• Emphasized the temporary nature of their works, leaving no trace after removal

Environmental art movements

• Encompass diverse approaches to addressing ecological issues through art
• Range from subtle interventions in nature to activist-oriented projects
• Reflect evolving environmental concerns and artistic practices over time

Earth art vs eco-art

• Earth art (or land art) focuses on creating works in and from the landscape
• Eco-art specifically addresses environmental issues and promotes ecological awareness
• Earth art often involves large-scale alterations of the land
• Eco-art tends to be more conservation-oriented, emphasizing sustainability

Sustainable art practices

• Emphasize use of environmentally friendly materials and processes
• May incorporate renewable energy or waste reduction in artwork creation
• Artists like John Sabraw create pigments from acid mine drainage to highlight water pollution issues
• Includes "upcycling" practices, transforming waste materials into art

Reclamation art projects

• Focus on rehabilitating damaged ecosystems through artistic interventions
• Often involve collaboration between artists, scientists, and local communities
• Examples include Joseph Beuys' "7000 Oaks" (1982) in Kassel, Germany
• Aims to restore ecological balance while creating aesthetically engaging environments

Themes and concepts

• Explore complex relationships between humans and the natural world
• Address urgent environmental issues through artistic expression
• Challenge viewers to reconsider their impact on and connection to nature

Human impact on nature

• Examines ways human activities alter natural environments
• May highlight issues like deforestation, pollution, or urbanization
• Artists like Edward Burtynsky photograph industrial landscapes to reveal environmental transformations
• Often seeks to raise awareness about the consequences of human actions on ecosystems

Ecological balance and harmony

• Explores interconnectedness of natural systems and organisms
• May emphasize symbiotic relationships in nature
• Artists like Patricia Johanson create public works that integrate art with ecological restoration
• Aims to promote more harmonious coexistence between humans and nature

Time and natural processes

• Investigates cyclical patterns and gradual changes in natural environments
• May incorporate elements that evolve or decay over time
• Artists like Hans Haacke work with living systems to reveal natural processes
• Challenges traditional notions of art as static or permanent

Techniques and materials

• Utilize diverse approaches to working with and representing nature
• Often prioritize environmentally conscious methods and materials
• May combine traditional artistic techniques with scientific or technological innovations

Found natural objects

• Incorporate materials collected from specific environments (leaves, stones, driftwood)
• Often arranged or manipulated to create temporary sculptures or installations
• Artists like Richard Long create works using materials gathered during walks in nature
• Emphasizes connection to place and minimal environmental impact

Biodegradable materials

• Use materials that naturally decompose over time
• May include organic matter like soil, plants, or even ice
• Artists like Nele Azevedo create temporary ice sculptures to highlight climate change
• Explores themes of impermanence and natural cycles

Digital technology in environmental art

• Incorporates new media to create immersive or interactive environmental experiences
• May use data visualization to represent ecological processes or climate data
• Artists like Nathalie Miebach create sculptures based on weather data
• Enables new forms of engagement with environmental issues and remote landscapes

Critical reception and debates

• Examines complex relationships between environmental art, activism, and institutions
• Raises questions about the role of art in addressing ecological crises
• Considers ethical implications of creating art in and about natural environments

Art vs environmental activism

• Debates effectiveness of environmental art in promoting real-world change
• Questions whether aesthetic concerns can align with activist goals
• Some artists explicitly frame their work as activism, while others focus on more subtle interventions
• Raises issues of audience engagement and the potential for art to influence environmental policy

Ethical considerations

• Addresses potential negative impacts of environmental art on ecosystems
• Questions appropriateness of altering natural landscapes for artistic purposes
• Considers issues of land use, indigenous rights, and long-term environmental consequences
• Artists like Agnes Denes balance artistic vision with ecological responsibility in works like "Tree Mountain" (1992-1996)

Institutional critique

• Examines role of museums and galleries in presenting environmental art
• Questions sustainability practices within art institutions
• Explores alternative exhibition models that minimize environmental impact
• Artists like Hans Haacke have critiqued art world's reliance on corporate sponsorship, including from environmentally damaging industries

Global perspectives

• Examines diverse cultural approaches to environmental art
• Considers how different worldviews shape artistic engagement with nature
• Highlights importance of local knowledge and traditions in addressing environmental issues

Indigenous environmental art

• Draws on traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices
• Often emphasizes spiritual connections to land and nature
• Artists like Bonnie Devine create works addressing environmental justice for indigenous communities
• May involve collaborative projects between indigenous artists and environmental scientists

Cultural differences in approach

• Reflects varying cultural attitudes towards nature and environmental issues
• May incorporate diverse spiritual or philosophical traditions
• Artists like Cai Guo-Qiang blend Eastern and Western approaches in environmental works
• Considers how globalization impacts local environmental art practices

Contemporary environmental art

• Addresses urgent ecological issues of the 21st century
• Incorporates new technologies and interdisciplinary approaches
• Engages with global environmental movements and scientific research

Climate change focus

• Directly addresses impacts and causes of global warming
• May visualize climate data or future scenarios
• Artists like Olafur Eliasson create works highlighting melting glaciers and rising sea levels
• Often aims to make abstract climate concepts more tangible and emotionally resonant

Interdisciplinary collaborations

• Brings together artists, scientists, engineers, and activists
• Explores innovative solutions to environmental challenges
• Projects like "The Ocean Cleanup" combine art, technology, and environmental science
• Enables new forms of knowledge production and public engagement with ecological issues

Virtual and augmented reality

• Creates immersive environmental experiences using digital technologies
• May simulate future climate scenarios or visualize invisible ecological processes
• Artists like Jakob Kudsk Steensen create virtual ecosystems exploring environmental themes
• Enables engagement with remote or inaccessible environments

Legacy and influence

• Traces ongoing impact of environmental art on contemporary culture and ecology
• Examines how environmental art has shaped public understanding of ecological issues
• Considers future directions for art engaging with environmental challenges

Impact on public art

• Influences design of parks, urban green spaces, and eco-friendly architecture
• Encourages integration of ecological principles in public art commissions
• Artists like Maya Lin create memorials and public works addressing environmental themes
• Shapes public perception and engagement with local environments

Environmental education through art

• Uses artistic approaches to communicate complex ecological concepts
• Develops innovative teaching methods combining art and environmental science
• Organizations like the Land Art Generator Initiative promote renewable energy through public art
• Engages diverse audiences in environmental issues through creative expression

Intersection with science and ecology

• Fosters collaborations between artists and environmental researchers
• Contributes to development of new visualization techniques for scientific data
• Artists like Brandon Ballengée combine artistic practice with ecological field work
• Explores potential for art to contribute to scientific understanding of environmental processes