The term `landscape`

Landscape is not just the rural countryside or a pictorial representation , but in fact a combination of the two. landscape imagery has long been used in societies to represent ideas of nature and the natural, rural myths and national and ethnic identity.

“People who have given the matter no thought are apt to assume that the appreciation of natural beauty and the painting of a landscape is a normal and enduring part of our spiritual identity.”

 (Clark, 1949)

This quotation from Clark’s work, Landscape Into Art (1949) explains the close relationship between art and the concept of landscape, and that, culturally, there is more to landscape than our appreciation of beauty in nature.

After some research about landscape, I learnt the word landscape entered

the English language at the end of the sixteenth-century from either Germany or

the Netherlands, where the term was a classification of territory rather than an

aesthetic concept, which in English became known as landskip. This fact was expressed in painting, where the Dutch naturalist landscape aesthetic was very much about the pastoral use of the land, expressed through real symbols such as farmers and cattle.

The English writer Henry Peacham (1576–1643) shows in his books that rural aesthetic was already established in England in the early seventeenth-century. Not only did his books instruct the English Gentlemen on how to compose a landscape painting, he made it clear that rural life was to be valued as a “…moral collective to the ills of the court and the city ” This provides an early insight into the importance of the experience of the rural landscape in English culture, but also reinforces the class dimension. A significant cultural factor in the development of aesthetic conventions for landscape art was the Grand Tour of Europe that flourished from the mid-seventeenth-century, where wealthy travellers and the European elite appropriated foreign, idealised landscape art.

 “The picturesque is a form in which everything is supposed to be in its right place, organised, precisely composed and controlled. A good composition in relation to the pictorial form of the picturesque gives a certain type of satisfaction for the viewer which results in the spectator having an experience of the beautiful.”

 

In many ways nature is now perceived as a historical object of the past, referring to the fact, of most of earth's surface has been interfered by humans. The term is referred to endangered animals, the environment needs to be protected and under observation In order to be kept in 'captivity‘.

The Finnish photographer Ilkka Halso shares a series of her work titled ‘The Museum of Nature’. The collection magnifies a series of man-made structures and frames that surround nature and display the form as if in a museum, protecting the land like a piece of history. This image has been digitally manipulated to represent how the future may look one day. I was intrigued by this idea and thought of how I could maybe progress with this thought.

Jem Southam

 

Jem Southam concentrates on the balance between nature and human interference. The photographer focuses on the cycles of decaying and renewing within everyday nature.

The three images I have chosen to focus on are the ‘Upton Pyne’ series. This type of work documents the changes on the pond that are recorded over a 7 year period.  The pond was known for an unnatural appearance and was left from an old manganese mine. The setting became a dumping ground for the local community and therefore wanted to restyle the land and create a more serfisticated nature piece of land.

During the seven years, Jem Southam photographed the several areas of land that  people were forced to clean-up, and create a place where general public could visit, but unfortunately there was no success in this rule. 

The image below, shows plenty of signs of human intrusion. The Bench and bridge focussed in the middle of the image suggest that this piece of land is a local area of significance, simplifying where people would spend their outdoor pleasure.

When admiring closely, he upside down boat suggests that the pond has life. The sky is dreary, creating an overcast shadow less setting. This image is shot from a persons perspective emphasising the angle in which  the person would see if they stood or walked this route. The bridge offers the viewer a window to look deeper into the image. The image is sharp creating detail, and the importance of humans destroying nature. The photo was shot in colour and reflects a monochrome effect , symbolising similar tones throughout, portraying the impression greyish day.

This image has a dissimilar feel as there shows more indication of human presence. The house in the background, resembles a subtle yet clean and sustainable approach. I think when focusing on the pond this the area looks more groomed and well kept, maybe suggesting the people living in the houses looking after the maintenance.

Compared to the other images the camera position is low. The shed focused at the side of the image makes the audience feel unease as it feels like intrusion, suggesting the land has been claimed.

This image has similar tones of colour as the first image, it resembles abandoned, but this time portraying only a small section of the pond. However when observing you still feel a slight intrusion, because of  how the image has been framed. The tress and bark suggest an untidy approach creating the illusion of whoever was in control has possibly quit. The fallen trees suggest a harsh autumn/winter, and has been hard to keep in control.

The camera is positioned is slightly positioned above creating the illusion of the viewer trying to push their way through, emphasising the overgrown pond. The rubbish and buildings are no longer seen, emphasising no human presence, nature has taken over. All three images show different impressions, even though they show the same geographical site.

John Martin

 

Martin is a 19th century artist whose work is preliminarily based on the ruin and corruption of our world, emphasizing the addition of biblical relevance. Images from his series, specialising the Apocalypse contradict denote any thoughts associated with the terrors of an event which refer to an expressionist picture. He portrays this through use of vibrant colours and out of the ordinary settings and compositions of the objects within the images. The photographer manages to accomplish the opposite effect.

Many of his paintings would be labelled as sci-fi as there the atmosphere contains a space age and innovative approach. I think the audience undertake this logic as a harder meaning, but this might have been intended by the artist whilst creating these series of work.

I find the photographers Arnatt and Martin’s work connects and compares in many ways. Firstly both their use of colour chose bright and light-hearted colours, causing a opposition between the subjects and the meaning behind them. The similarities involve the textures and compositions in which both photographers wish to include in their work.

You notice the cascading and irregular edges of the plastic bags in Arnatts photos replicate the angular and slanting rocks  in Martin’s paintings. Both artists choose to focus on the topic of ‘world issues’ and how human kind is the key leader behind these important issues. 

Another artist whose artistry deals with environmental and economical ruin is Gordon Cheung. His work capitalises the inspiration form Martin's paintings. This is explored through the use of mixed media and graphical style. He creates images denoting a clear minded approach, however the vibrant colours and textures create a similar challenge between subjects and story. His images share a religious connection in comparison to Martins work of art. The style depicts certain people’s impressions, implying  a contemporary god. For example, in modern day life this could imply the nuclear power.

When focusing on my themes for my project I came across the book 'No Ordinary Land, which encounters in `a changing environment‘. The book  explores the way people cooperate with the landscapes in which they live in. I Thought this related well towards my themes and therefore studied and researched  the natural world, and how it is shaped and re-shaped by human behaviour. 

 

A book titled `water` gave me inspiration towards my environment project as the book focused upon the  work of Hans Silvester who looks at waters 'vital role in the life of our planet'.

 

Most of the images from this series are close up reflections of large water sources, the patterns and colours transpire from them. His series of photos involve man's uses and destruction of water, natural water sources where water is untouched.

 

This book gave me ideas of taking photos of reflections whilst capitalising on humans control of nature. This could include hidden subjects such as buildings, trees, scrap yards or oil locations.