Guide to Land Art

The second half of the 20th century came after avant-garde, a period during which painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking had reached unforeseen limits. However, artistic research did not stop there. New figures introduced new ways of making art, such as installation, performance, and other forms that paved the way for what we know today as contemporary art. Among these new movements, land art stands out for its unique relationship with nature and the environment.

Hello! Welcome to this new article dedicated to land art, this fascinating artistic movement that leads us to question the relationship that can be established between human beings, the environment, and art. Join me to dissect this unique artistic trend, which is especially relevant in a context marked by deep climatic concerns.

The origin and objectives of land art

Let's go back to the English-speaking world between the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, some artists begin to see the increasing and frantic commercialization of art as a real issue, and start to reconsider the role of art and its responsibilities in this context.

This is how the artists of this movement begin to create work far from galleries and cities. They return to nature, not just as a source of inspiration, but as a refuge and as a canvas. Their works use elements of the environment to construct images.

But that's not all: the artists seek to have their work coexist with nature until it integrates into it. The creation therefore remains in place, exposed to the climate, the passage of time, the growth of vegetation, and interaction with animals. That is why preserving some record of the work becomes compelling for some artists.

The fundamental characteristics of land art

It is necessary to define the boundaries of what can be considered land art. Here are some essential characteristics of this trend:

Use of natural materials: Using elements found in the chosen location, such as leaves, soil, or stones. These materials might also be modified.
Close link with the landscape: The creation and its landscape are deeply connected. In other words, the location of the work is not chosen at random, but according to a decision that defines the narrative of the work.
Ephemeral artwork: These are not permanent works. They are exposed to the whims of nature and can thus gradually disappear or be absorbed by their environment.
Documentation of the process: Related to the previous point, artists often choose to document the process of creation, integration, and decline of the artwork, considering it to be something as alive as the nature that surrounds it.

Major land art artists and their iconic artworks

To better understand this movement, let's discover the artists who shaped it, as well as their most important works.

Robert Smithson (1938–1973)

A North American artist, Robert Smithson ventured into this movement by contributing not only particularly interesting works, but also theoretical texts. He started with abstract art, but his reflections quickly led him to question the relationship between art, territory, astronomy, and many other subjects. He is the author of what is perhaps the most representative work of land art, "Spiral Jetty" (1970).

Walter de Maria (1913-2013)

In the 1960s, New York City welcomed a very interesting artist, whose interest in conceptual art, minimalism, and installation quickly crossed the boundaries of conventional art.

His reflections revolved around the precision of Mother Nature and the understanding of natural phenomena. His most representative work, "The Lightning Field" (1977), is a sort of experiment: dozens of steel rods await being struck by the impressive electrical discharges from the sky.

The Lightning Field (1977), Walter De Maria — photo: Retis (Flickr), license CC BY 2.0

Andy Goldsworthy (1956 - present)

He is a British sculptor and photographer, Scottish to be precise. His interest in ecology has led him to develop a form of environmental commitment through his art. Fragile and ephemeral, his creations disappear quickly under the effect of the elements, making it essential to capture them in a photo. You may remember works like "Bail Hill Arch" (2009).

Striding Arch of Bail Hill — photo: Peter Edwards, license CC BY-SA 2.0

Historical exhibitions

In 1968, the Dwan Gallery presented a public exhibition of a series of photographs, drawings, maps, and samples of works by some artists of this movement. This exhibition toook on a hint of irony in relation to the movement's initial intention, but it helped to raise the profile of this new alternative and its reflections. The exhibition was titled "EarthWorks" and was held in New York.

A year later, in 1969, Cornell University invited some of the artists mentioned to create several artworks in its museum.

Documentaries and films about land art

These works are often located in remote places, so one might think that the only way to discover them is through the artists' archives, such as photographs or drawings. However, I have good news: some artists, as well as filmmakers, anticipated this constraint by making short documentary films in which they present their works and thoughts in more detail. Here are a few:

SPIRAL JETTY [FILM] Robert Smithson (1970), Spiral Jetty, Great Salt Lake. Duration: 35 minutes. Holt/Smithson Foundation.

CHRISTO'S VALLEY CURTAIN AND RUNNING FENCE Albert Maysles, David Maysles, and Charlotte Zwerin (1977)). Duration: 58 minutes. Nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary.

Leaning Into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy by Thomas Riedelsheimer (2017) Duration: 90 minutes.

We have reached the end of this article. I hope you found it both interesting and enjoyable to read. Thanks to these artists, we understand that we can create anywhere, and that it is essential to reflect on our place in the world we inhabit.

Writer: Bryam