The practice of sustainability infuses every part of our lives, and one of the ways that we can meaningfully study and practice respect for nature and our interdependence upon our environment is through art.
Subject and Object
While the art of landscape can be traced back through the ages giving a thematic study and appreciation and consideration of nature, it is not until the 1970s that an exciting art movement emerged that used nature not only as a muse or subject but as the very materials of the piece. Earth Art commonly utilizes elements such as earth, sand, wood, stones, water, and natural gifts from the sea, as typical components of the artwork.
The Material World
The Earth Art movement, which is also known as Land Art or Earthwork, is an exciting symbiosis between the environment, the artist, and the viewer. Land Art being set outdoors is, like the earth itself, impacted by the weather. The natural world is not only the subject of the piece but becomes a part of the artwork as it is shaped and changed by the elements.
“Spiral Jetty” by Robert Smithson is perhaps one of the first and most widely known Earthworks. Picture it: 5,000 tons of basalt molded into the shape of a spiral. A great geometric work of art, placed in the Great Salt Lake of the Utah desert. This work of art is made of the earth, and is influenced and influences its environment.
Evolution of a Revolution
Now, in the 21st century, artists, sculptures, curators, and art collectors continue to evolve and to develop the relationship between art and the environment. Sustainable art now has influences that include and move beyond the use of the environment as subject and material, the philosophy of sustainability is felt at the environmental and the social levels as well. Sustainable artists work to optimize the employment of natural resources being aware of the environmental impact of the work and seek to recycle, reuse, rethink, and re-envision materials.
A New View
Social Challenges from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, which ACCIONA and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum have developed in unison, explores topics including The City, protecting the landscape, and industrialization. These ideas are brought to life by painters ranging from Claudio de Lorena to Vincent van Gogh and showcase the interconnection between artists and the natural world.