Literature Review on the History of Environmental Art

This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of environmental art, exploring its definitions, historical context, and impact on ecological awareness. The review begins by defining environmental art and its relationship to eco art, Romanticism, eco-realism, and Gaia Art. It then traces the history of environmental art, from landscape painting to contemporary artists addressing climate change and human intervention with nature. The review discusses key movements, including the Romantic and Neo-Romantic movements, and the rise of eco-realism. It also examines how environmental art challenges traditional sculptural forms, with a focus on site-specific art, Arte povera, and land art. The review also discusses ecological art, its approaches, and its impact on the environment, including artists' efforts to minimize harm or restore the landscape. The review concludes by exploring the role of eco-feminist artists, renewable energy sculptures, and the importance of reconnecting with nature in the face of technological advancements and environmental challenges. The paper includes figures illustrating key works and movements within the environmental art genre.

LITERATURE REVIEW

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Definitions of Environmental Art................................................................................................1
History of Environment Art.........................................................................................................2
Challenging traditional sculptural forms.....................................................................................3
Impact of environment.................................................................................................................5
Ecological awareness and transformation....................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: John Constable - The Stour Valley with the Church of Dedham.....................................2
Figure 2: Elizabeth Albert - Wooden Wreck...................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
In general sense, environmental art is an art which helps in improving the relationship
with the natural world. It is also regarded as the eco art which is used as an umbrella term for
Romanticism, eco realism and Gaia Art (Hoyos, 2010). These three movements contribute
towards promoting human connections with the natural world. It also criticizes the destruction of
environment. It can be the best described as a roof where there is place for different art styles and
techniques. Very similar to a house, environmental art is made up of various artists who share a
common belief about the universe (Jordan and Lenschow, 2010). Different artists portray
different shades of this kind of art. It could be dark, horrifying, weird and beautiful also. They
make efforts to show the importance of people’s belongingness with the natural world. This
literature review talks about the history of environmental art. It will discuss the contribution
made by different types of environmental artists in this field. It is expected that this review will
achieve its desired goals and objectives. The purpose of study is to identify the way in which
environmental art is making its valuable contribution in creating awareness among public
regarding the preservation of nature and surroundings.
Definitions of Environmental Art
This kind of art is capable of showing the way in which humanity should be grounded
and connected to the natural world in a different manner. The purpose is to make connection in
social, philosophical, economical and in a spiritual manner (Bodansky, 2010). The related artists
identify the disconnection of people from the environment and make efforts to rectify it by
adopting different approaches. Through this art, humans are realized of their duties in preserving
the earth. The limitedness and fragility of nature is also reflected through this mode (Morgan,
2012). It shows the manner in which disconnectedness from the earth causes social inequality
and injustice. The eco-art movement consists of different types of sub-movements. These include
Romanticism which celebrates the beauty of nature and people connected to it. Eco-realism
exposes the horror and injustice of human pollution and environmental harm (Veziroglu and
Macario, 2011). Gaia Art helps in making spiritual connection with environment on the basis of
symbolism and authentic spiritual expression.
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History of Environment Art
Historically early example of environmental is generated from landscape painting and
representation. Artists developed a deep connection with the surrounding environment and
weather when they painted onsite (Lahr and Kooistra, 2010). They brought these close
observations into their canvases. Monet’s London Series also demonstrated the connection of
people with the nature. Contemporary painters like Diane Burko represented the natural things
and its change over time. He conveyed different types of ecological issues and drawing the
attention of society towards climate change (Jang, Lee and Ahn 2011). Another artist named
Alexis Rockman also depicted a sarcastic view of climate change through his landscape. He
displayed humankind’s interventions with other species through the way of genetic engineering.
After the period of Enlightenment (1620-1780), people in western society started moving
away from agrarian living, farm culture and ranches towards urban town and cities. Expansion of
science and discovery diverted humans from the natural things (Bodansky, 2010). This
movement was known as the Romantic Movement. Following the Industrial Revolution, it
became the Neo-Romantic movement.
Figure 1: John Constable - The Stour Valley with the Church of Dedham
(Source: Hoyos, 2010)
Romantics were devoted towards the greatness and beauty of nature. They were of the
belief that there should be a connection between mankind and environment rather than
disconnection. In order to inspire humans to return to environment, tools such as music, images
and sculpture were used (Jordan and Lenschow, 2010). In that context, an artist named John
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Constable made a great contribution. His sky paintings very closely represented the sky in
nature. His famously painted landscapes and images of humanity were rooted in the beauty of
nature. His work exemplifies classic Romanticism with his idealization of those living in
connection with the land (WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ART?, 2010). Romantics reflected the
return to nature through Utopian imagery while on the other side; Eco-realists reflected the
horror and injustice on environment.
Figure 2:Elizabeth Albert - Wooden Wreck
(Source: Jordan and Lenschow, 2010)
It was done to shock and provoke the humanity into action. The 19th century Realist
Movement confronted society with the social effects of working class. They rejected the idea that
art should be beautiful or comforting (Bodansky, 2010). Instead of it, they were of the opinion
that it should realize humans with the duties of environment protection. People should feel guilty
of destructive impact which has been caused to the nature. Their work includes the images of
destruction and pollution which highlighted the environmental injustice and inequality (Morgan,
2012). The figure above is framed by Elizabeth Albert. It focuses viewer on the damage and
harm done to the environment. It creates awareness among the masses about its limits and
fragility.
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Challenging traditional sculptural forms
The growth of environmental art started as a movement in the late 1960s or 1970s. In the
initial stages, it was mostly associated with the sculptures such as site-specific art, Arte povera
and land art. In October 1968, an exhibition was organized by Robert Smithson at Dwan Gallery
in New York (Veziroglu and Macario, 2011). It was titled simply as “Earthworks”. The artists
were not only depicting the landscape but also engaging it. The shift in late 60s and 70s
represents an avant garde notion about the sculpture, the landscape and relations with the
humans. The expanding term of environmental art also consists of the scope of urban landscape
(Lahr and Kooistra, 2010). Alan Sonfist introduced the key environmentalist concept of bringing
the nature back into urban scenario. In the present context, Sonfist is contributing towards
developing broad enthusiasm for environmental and green issues among the public. The
inviolability of nature and the environment is often seen in the work of different types of artists
(Jang, Lee and Ahn, 2011).
EcoArt
The ecological Art is an artistic practice which is sustainable with the life forms and
resources of planet. It consists of artists, scientists, philosophers and activists which are highly
devoted towards the activities of ecological art. Eco Art is different because it focuses on
systems and interrelationship within environment (Bodansky, 2010). It creates awareness and
changes the behavior of people towards other species. It helps in developing long term respect
for the natural things which surround us. According to Hoyos, (2010), Ecological art is
performed in collaboration with scientists, architects and many others. It results in the direct
intervention in environmental degradation (Jang, Lee and Ahn, 2011). It was identified that artist
is a lead agent in that practice. There are several approaches to this kind of art which are as
follows:
 Representational artworks – It reveals information on the basis of making objects and
images with the purpose of making any conversation (Jordan and Lenschow, 2010)
 Remediation Projects – These projects restore the polluted and disrupted environments.
Under this approach, artists also coordinate with landscape architects, scientists and
urban planners.
 Activist Projects – These kinds of projects engage, inform, energize and activate change
of behaviors (WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ART?, 2010)
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 Social sculptures – It is a time based artwork which involves communities in controlling
their landscapes. It plays a participatory role in the sustainable practices and lifestyles.
 Eco Poetic – It is an approach which starts a re-envisioning and re-enchantment with the
natural world. It offers inspiration to healing and co-existence with other species.
 Direct Encounters – It is a kind of artwork which brings into play the natural
phenomena such as water, weather, sunlight and plants etc. (Jordan and Lenschow,
2010)
 Didactic or Pedagogical works – This approach depicts the information related to
environmental injustice and ecological issues such as water and soil pollution including
the health hazards (Lahrand Kooistra, 2010).
 Lived and relational Aesthetics – It involves sustainable, off-the-grid and permaculture
existences (Veziroglu and Macario, 2011)
Impact of environment
In the world of environment art, crucial arguments can be made between two categories
of artists. First are those who do not take into consideration the possible damage to the
environment that their artwork may incur. Second category is of those people where the intention
is to cause no harm to nature (Bodansky, 2010). In that context, criticism was raised against the
European sculptor Christo. He wrapped the coastline at Little Bay in the south of Sydney in
temporarily manner. Comments from the conservationists influenced the international attention
in the environmental circles. It led the contemporary artists in the region to rethink about the
inclinations of land art and site specific art (WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ART?, 2010).
The sustainable art emerged with the consideration for wider impact of the work and in
relation to nature. Some of the artists selected to minimize their potential impact while others
choose to restore the immediate landscape to a natural state (Jordan and Lenschow, 2010).
British Sculptor Richard Long made outdoor sculptural work in temporary manner through
rearranging the natural material that is discovered on the site such as rocks, mud and branches.
These will have no lingering detrimental effects (Jordan and Lenschow, 2010). Leading
environmental artists re-vegetated the damaged land with suitable flora in the process of making
their work. In this manner, the work of art was emerged as a concern towards the habitat.
Possibly, 7000 Oaks was the most celebrated instance of environmental art in the late 20th
century. During 1982, an ecological action was crafted by Joseph Beuys. In that action, different
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artists and their respective assistants reflected the scenario of local environment by planting 7000
oak treesat the city of Kassel (WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ART?, 2010).
Ecological awareness and transformation
Many eco-feminist artists such as Aviva Rahmani displayed the human relations with the
natural world. They created ecological informed artwork which focuses on the transformation
and reclamation. Rosalie Gascoigne has also made a significant contribution in this field. She
fashioned her serene sculptures from junk. Patrice Stellest established big installations with junk
but at the same time, he also incorporated pertinent items (Jordan and Lenschow, 2010). Another
artist named John Wolseley gathered visual and scientific data from the remote regions. He then
integrated the visuals into complex wall structures on paper. An eco-writer and theoretician
named Linda Weintraub developed a concept called cycle logical in order to describe the
relationship between recycling and psychology (Morgan, 2012).
Renewable energy sculpture is another discovery in the field of environment art.
Different artists are developing explicit interventions at a functional level in order to respond
towards growing concern about the global climate change (Veziroglu and Macario, 2011). They
are merging the aesthetical responses with the functional properties of energy generation or
saving. In that context, project related to the subject of experimental architecture has been
designed by Andrea Polli. It is regarded as the Queens Bridge Wind Power project. It
incorporates the wind turbines into a bridge’s structure to reconstruct the aspects of original
design as well as lightning the bridge and neighboring areas (Lahr and Kooistra, 2010).
In the present context, people have lost connection with the nature. They are no more in
contact with the lively things as they are enclosed with technology. They are living a life which
is computerized and which has not emotions. They are not concerned with the environment
around them (Morganová, 2014). Humans can be held responsible for polluting the natural
atmosphere. They are ignoring the importance of natural things and this is affecting their life
also. Due to this, different types of diseases, hazards etc. are prevailing which are damaging their
physical condition. In that case, environment art is a good weapon to create awareness among
people (Van Stappen, Brose and Schenkel, 2011). There is a need to educate humans about the
beauty of these things so that they can learn to preserve them and respect them. Further, these
artists should be given with more encouragement so that they give their valuable contribution to
this issue.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bodansky, D., 2010. The art and craft of international environmental law. Harvard University
Press.
Hoyos, D., 2010. The state of the art of environmental valuation with discrete choice
experiments. Ecological economics. 69(8). pp. 1595-1603.
Jang, A., Lee, K. K. and Ahn, C. H., 2011. State-of-the-art lab chip sensors for environmental
water monitoring. Measurement Science and Technology. 22(3). pp.032001.
Jordan, A. and Lenschow, A., 2010. Policy paper environmental policy integration: a state of the
art review. Environmental Policy and Governance. 20(3). pp.147-58.
Lahr, J. and Kooistra, L., 2010. Environmental risk mapping of pollutants: state of the art and
communication aspects. Science of the Total Environment. 408(18). pp.3899-3907.
Morgan, R. K., 2012. Environmental impact assessment: the state of the art.Impact Assessment
and Project Appraisal. 30(1). pp.5-14.
Morganová, P., 2014. Czech Action Art: Happenings, Actions, Events, Land Art, Body Art and
Performance Art Behind the Iron Curtain. Karolinum Press, Charles University.
Van Stappen, F., Brose, I. and Schenkel, Y., 2011. Direct and indirect land use changes issues in
European sustainability initiatives: State-of-the-art, open issues and future
developments. Biomass and Bioenergy. 35(12). pp. 4824-4834.
Veziroglu, A. and Macario, R., 2011. Fuel cell vehicles: State of the art with economic and
environmental concerns. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 36(1). pp. 25-43.
Online
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ART? 2010. [Online]. Available through:
<http://greenmuseum.org/what_is_ea.php>. [Accessed on 9th October 2015].
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