The Emergence of Ecological Art
Art and nature have always found ways to intersect with one another, the latter being a huge source of inspiration for artists. Found across many forms: rural and historical for the Classicists, grandiose and wild for the Romantics, or sensitive and poetic for the Impressionists. But it was only much later that the artist became aware of the environment’s fragility. Art subsequently became the preferred medium to express this. Nature began to be depicted beyond pure aestheticism, as art and nature found themselves at the heart of this political battle. In fact, nature’s deterioration has profoundly changed the relationship between artists and the landscape. Artlever invites you to discover how combining art and nature turned into an ecological and environmental battle during the 20th century.
This hybrid of art and nature entitled Leonhardt Lagoon is the result of thorough research. It perfectly synthesizes the aesthetic reflection of monumental sculptures and scientific studies for the rehabilitation of a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. This work successfully encourages wildlife to return while attracting curious onlookers.
Another major example of the reclamation art movement: Tree Mountain, A Living Time Capsule, by artist Agnès Dénes, whose works engage with environmental issues. Her installations explore the interactions between man and nature. The artist created a small mountain and planted 11,000 pine trees, with the help of 11,000 people, reclaiming land that had been destroyed by resource extraction. This project was launched at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on June 5th 1992, as a contribution from Finland to aid in alleviating ecological stress.
Tree Mountain is the largest work combining art and nature on an international scale. With no end date in sight, the project has a much more noble goal than celebrating the human ego! More than a work of art, this project is a legacy for future generations.
Another example is Guerra De La Paz, a collective of two Cuban artists. Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz use old clothes to create their sculptures. Their works are striking, and represent the wastefulness of our consumer society vis-a-vis the fashion industry. A very creative way to get the message across!
Others, such as Simon Beck, find even more ways to raise ecological awareness. The British cartographer and cartoonist invented snow art in the early 2000s. With his snowshoes, he draws shapes in the snow and films them with a drone. His artistic approach warns against the fragility of the environment and aims to raise awareness. However, his work has been interrupted due to some avalanche warnings and bad weather conditions.