Clemson clay nest by Nils-Udo (2005) via designboom

Introduction

I grew up in a home surrounded by art, crafts, artists, making, doing and fixing. The mantra was create, don’t consume. At the time I didn’t realise quite how lucky I was to be brought up, and gaining so much pleasure from, ‘making’. Now, as both an artist and environmental campaigner I wonder more than ever about the role of the arts in environmentalism. As it becomes more pressing than ever to engage in meaningful action, what is it that will really make us change our way?

Artists have long played a role as commentator and reflector of the world, as we face the biggest challenge of our time – climate change – I want to take a look at who’s saying what; and ask what art might truly have an impact on fundamental behaviour change. What is environmental art? In a general sense, environmental art is work that helps improve our relationship with the natural world. There is no definition set in stone. Much environmental art is made to disappear or transform, designed for a particular place or challenges how we treat the environment itself.

This worldwide movement is growing and evolving every day. But, could the most powerful ‘environmental’ art be some of the most ancient known to man? And, was this art form dismissed with the onset of mass consumerism, the very catalyst of the environmental crisis we face today? I have a suspicion that this could be the case. Let’s take a look…

• THE NATURAL WORLD

Traditional environmental art is perhaps appreciation of nature.

Harry Cory Wright. British Landscape photographer, capturing the essence of nature on a large format Victorian Gandolfi camera.

2. REFORMING NATURE

Sculptural work can create a natural architecture, appreciating nature on a different level by creating different forms. As the primal creator, Nature could be considered the world's most powerful and influential artist.

Sculpting nature into structures – Canya Viva – Spain 2013

Robert Smithson http://www.robertsmithson.com/index__, working with nature since the 70’s. Some stunning work with the natural environment

‘Surrounded Islands’ by Christo and Jeanne Claude. High impact reframing of nature, 1980’s.

3. RECYCLING AND REUSING

Examining, and directly addressing sustainability and resource scarcity. I’m a big fan of art that is also sustainable in its approach – reusing, re and up cycling. To me, it’s true prosperity without growth.

Book Blocks – recycling old books for printing – Daniel Speight of The Soft City (2013)

Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira makes three-dimensional sculptures entirely out of layers of peeled, old plywood, collected from construction sites around Sao Paulo.

‘Wild Mood Swings’ shadows from sculpture made from discarded wood by Tim Noble and Sue Webster. (2009)

4. ECOLOGICAL ART

Representing life on a precipice, there is no better example of ecological art than those bringing animals back from the dead.

David Day – The Doomsday Book of Animals. ‘A rollcall of the dead’, graphic illustrations of extinct animals (1981)

The phenomenal ‘Ghosts of birds gone’ held in London in 2011. "Choiseul Crested Pigeon" by Ralph Steadman - Print

5. PRESENTING OUR OPTIONS

Renewable energy is fast emerging in the art world, with sculptures depicting its power to the very plants themselves arguably an artistic creation.

Solar powered light installation in Germany (2011)

Or is, in-fact modern engineering the ultimate in environmental art? A concentrated solar power plant in Spain. Prettier than a nuclear plant, hey.

6. IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT

There are plenty of people at work looking to improve spaces and places with biodegradable materials (another blog in itself), and doing their best to improve already existing things. Rather than let them go into disrepair, artists everywhere are looking to preserve, and improve, what we have. Surely that’s environmentalism too.

Swoon is an American street artist with a very special talent for paper and street walls. Definitely check out her work, it’s hard not to love.

An example of ‘upcycled’ furniture, where old furniture is restored and / or improved. This particular piece gives a nod to North American Indian culture and their spiritual connection with nature. Oh, and it was done by me.

7. ACTIVISM

Campaigning, and raising awareness of issues through artistic intervention, is a vital part of this piece. As time to act passes before our eyes it seems increasingly important to engage in different ways. Big respect to these groups in particular.

Liberate Tate – Tate Britain – against BP sponsorship (2011)

350.org Fossil Free campaigners – Platform, London. The divestment movement is becoming one of the fastest growing global movements of all time (2013).

8. TOTEMISM

Now, bear with me. This is a bit of a jump, but could this ancient practice be the ultimate in environmental art?

Stanley Park Totems, Vancouver, Canada. Whilst the majority of art is a representation of the world around us, the notion of the totem is to connect to the spiritual world around us. Could it be that to have a greater connection to people and planet is actually the step that’s necessary to change our behaviour in the long run? I think perhaps so.

Gordon Glyn-Jones ‘And God Said: Really?’ Exhibition 29th & 30th May 2014 Hoxton Arches Gallery, London

Examining the primal yearning we have for a more vital life and the feel of natures’ rich chaos, Gordon Glyn-Jones questions our sense of self as we are increasingly surrounded by the un natural world. With a nod to totemism, he asks does the modern world threaten our ancient animal humanity? What happened to totemism. Well, the biggest critique of totemistic phenomena was by the French ethnologist Claude Lévi-Strauss. For Lévi-Strauss, totemism was an "illusion” and a “mere” social construct. This notion grew in popularity, totemism simply didn’t fit with post-colonialism, individualism and the pursuit of a consumerist society. It’s interesting, indeed, to note that some of the most avid environmentalists protecting the environment right now are the indigenous community of North America.

Could totemism and a reconnection with ourselves and the spirit world actually save us? In the meantime, there are plenty of interesting things springing up in the world of environmental art. An area set to go from strength to strength, and I look forward to getting involved. Art is play, and we may as well play as we fight.