6.3 Working with natural forces and environmental changes

Environmental art interacts intimately with natural forces, creating dynamic and ever-changing installations. Weather, seasons, and geological processes shape these artworks, influencing their appearance, structure, and lifespan. Artists harness wind, water, and sunlight to create interactive pieces that respond to their surroundings.

Embracing impermanence is key in environmental art. Artists work with nature's cycles, creating pieces that evolve over time. They select materials and techniques that can withstand or adapt to changing conditions, fostering a deep connection between art and the natural world.

Natural Forces and Environmental Changes in Environmental Art

Influence of weather on environmental art

Top images from around the web for Influence of weather on environmental art

• 

  Projected changes of precipitation and temperature extremes | Climate Lab Book View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  LABORATORY 8: ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION – Physical Geography Lab Manual: The ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Projected changes of precipitation and temperature extremes | Climate Lab Book View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Influence of weather on environmental art

• 

  Projected changes of precipitation and temperature extremes | Climate Lab Book View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  LABORATORY 8: ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION – Physical Geography Lab Manual: The ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Projected changes of precipitation and temperature extremes | Climate Lab Book View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Weather conditions significantly impact environmental art
  • Temperature variations cause materials to expand, contract, or degrade (melting ice, cracking wood)
  • Precipitation interacts with artworks, altering their appearance and structure (rain eroding soil sculptures, snow blanketing installations)
  • Wind patterns and intensity create movement, sound, and shape in kinetic sculptures (wind chimes, fluttering fabric)
• Seasonal changes bring dynamic transformations to environmental art
  • Variations in daylight hours affect the interplay of light and shadow (longer shadows in winter, extended daylight in summer)
  • Plant life cycles influence the appearance and composition of artworks (spring growth, autumn decay)
  • Animal migrations and behaviors contribute to the ecosystem surrounding the art (birds nesting in sculptures, insects pollinating flower installations)
• Geological processes shape the landscape and materials used in environmental art
  • Erosion and deposition alter the contours of the land and the placement of artworks (wind-blown sand dunes, river-carved canyons)
  • Tectonic activity can disrupt or reshape installations (earthquakes toppling sculptures, volcanic eruptions burying artworks)
  • Weathering of materials changes the texture, color, and stability of art elements (rusting metal, mossy growth on stone)

Techniques for natural force interventions

• Utilizing wind power to create dynamic and interactive artworks
  • Wind-driven kinetic sculptures harness air currents to generate movement (Alexander Calder's mobiles, Anthony Howe's wind-powered structures)
  • Capturing wind energy to produce sound or trigger mechanical elements (Aeolian harps, wind-activated chimes)
• Responding to water flow by integrating art with aquatic environments
  • Redirecting or channeling water courses to create immersive installations (Andy Goldsworthy's rock formations, Olafur Eliasson's riverbed interventions)
  • Creating artworks that interact with tides or currents, adapting to the ebb and flow (Motoi Yamamoto's salt installations, Jason deCaires Taylor's underwater sculptures)
• Incorporating solar energy to power and illuminate environmental artworks
  • Harnessing sunlight for illumination or shadow play (James Turrell's skyspaces, Nancy Holt's Sun Tunnels)
  • Using solar power to activate or transform artworks over time (Tomás Saraceno's solar-powered sculptures, Reuben Margolin's wave-like kinetic installations)
• Adapting to geological formations by integrating art seamlessly with the natural landscape
  • Sculpting artworks directly into rock faces or carving into the earth (Michael Heizer's Double Negative, Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty)
  • Utilizing the inherent properties of rocks, minerals, and soils as artistic media (Richard Long's stone circles, Andy Goldsworthy's ephemeral sculptures)

Temporal aspects of dynamic environments

• Embracing impermanence as a fundamental aspect of environmental art
  • Accepting the transient nature of materials and forms, allowing them to change and decay (Andy Goldsworthy's ice and leaf sculptures, Urs Fischer's wax figures)
  • Documenting the evolution and degradation of artworks over time, capturing the beauty in transformation (Christo and Jeanne-Claude's wrapped structures, Spencer Tunick's temporary human installations)
• Observing seasonal transformations and their impact on the artistic landscape
  • Capturing the fleeting moments of seasonal beauty, such as blooming flowers or falling leaves (Azuma Makoto's floral installations, Wolfgang Laib's pollen sculptures)
  • Creating works that respond to the changing colors, textures, and moods of the landscape (Maya Lin's Storm King Wavefield, Giuseppe Penone's tree sculptures)
• Engaging with diurnal cycles to explore the interplay of light and shadow
  • Designing installations that shift and evolve throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky (James Turrell's Roden Crater, Nancy Holt's Annual Ring)
  • Harnessing the changing qualities of natural light to create immersive and contemplative experiences (Olafur Eliasson's Weather Project, Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Rooms)

Adaptable approaches in changing conditions

• Material selection plays a crucial role in creating resilient environmental art
  • Choosing durable, weather-resistant materials that can withstand the elements (stainless steel, granite, recycled plastics)
  • Considering the lifecycle and decomposition of materials, embracing the natural processes of decay and regeneration (biodegradable fibers, compostable structures)
• Site responsiveness ensures that artworks can adapt to the unique conditions of their environment
  • Designing installations that can withstand or adapt to site-specific challenges such as extreme temperatures, high winds, or flooding (Theo Jansen's wind-powered Strandbeests, Nele Azevedo's melting ice sculptures)
  • Incorporating flexibility and modularity in the design, allowing artworks to be reconfigured or relocated as needed (Christo and Jeanne-Claude's floating piers, Thomas Saraceno's cloud cities)
• Maintenance and stewardship are essential for the long-term sustainability of environmental art
  • Planning for ongoing care and upkeep of artworks, considering the effects of weathering, erosion, and biological growth (regular cleaning, structural reinforcement, replanting)
  • Engaging local communities in the stewardship of environmental art projects, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility (community gardens, participatory maintenance events)
• Embracing change and uncertainty as inherent aspects of working with dynamic environments
  • Viewing environmental changes as opportunities for creative exploration and adaptation, rather than obstacles to overcome (Olafur Eliasson's Ice Watch, Ned Kahn's wind-animated facades)
  • Allowing artworks to evolve and transform over time in response to natural processes, celebrating the impermanence and resilience of the natural world (Martin Hill's ephemeral sculptures, Buster Simpson's bio-interventions)