Environment dictionary definitions and etymology:
- the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
- the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.
- the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population
From Middle French environnement, equivalent to environ + –men
I think the theme of ‘Environment’ is very broad and can be interpreted in a number of ways. For example the surroundings that artists are exposed to significantly influences the meanings behind their work because the political and economic forces of their social context will effect their physiological condition. Physically the natural environment has always been an dominant theme in art because of its aesthetic qualities. An obvious starting point for this theme could be to explore landscapes as well as environmental portraits to show how people interact with their environments. ‘Environmental art’ as a genre addresses ” social and political issues relating to the natural and urban environment” (Tate) and particularly it is now associated with ecological concerns to do with climate change.
To begin my research and planning for this project I have created a mood-board and mind-map of ideas associated with the theme.
I have many possible starting points for this project but most of them are currently quite vague and need to be narrowed down. I think that ‘environment’ can be thought of on a large scale, for example aerial views of landscapes in contrast to macro shots of elements that make up an environment. There is also the potential to explore it in a personal way through the environments unique to individuals like their homes and families.
Reflecting on previous projects, I was interested in exploring the contrast between the natural and man-made environment in response to the Romanticist and New-typographic movements. As part of my exam module last year I explored weather, light and tidal changes within the same landscapes which was also interesting. Previously I have also explored Jersey as an environment especially during the Video Art project. I like the idea of challenging the stereotypical representations of Jersey’s natural beauty, not necessarily by focusing on the urban side but just finding new ways to represent the natural beauty. This could also be an opportunity to bring in archival imagery by exploring how the Island has changed and been portrayed in the past. While doing the Video Art project I was also introduced to the film ‘Koyannisqatsi : Life Out of Balance’ which I think is very powerful in the way that it juxtaposes the beauty of the natural world against the man-made as well as the impact of humans and technology which would be relevant to explore again for this theme. We are now considered to be living in the Digital age and historically technological advancements have impacted both the form and content of art. For example during the Industrial revolution artists rebelled against it such as the Romanticists who aimed to explore escapism and focus on the beauty of the natural world. When studying Tableaux I also found that the Pre-raphaelites expressed a nostalgic desire for the past and imagined a medieval world unsullied by the industrialisation of the 19th century. Realism on the other hand aimed to portray life as it actually was with truth and accuracy. I think it could be interesting to explore how contextual environments have influenced art both in the past and present and maybe look into varying ideas of values and standards throughout time maybe in relation to things like beauty and representation of social class, women etc.
I have been thinking about developing something in relation to my Personal Study, possibly by approaching the subject in a different, more artistic way for example using the mirror found in the Foot buildings for a shoot. However the mirror is big and fragile so i’d have to be careful about borrowing it. A good way to explore this would be using the mirror to photograph scenes within the buildings but this isn’t really possible at the moment with the current work taking place. I could use the mirror at my own home and potentially create some family portraits but I think I would only be able to borrow it for a certain amount of time and I’m currently not sure how I would connect this to other shoots and ideas based around the theme of Environment.
I think this project could provide an opportunity to experiment with a more creative and artistic approach to photography for example I have started to look at ‘land art’ with the broader idea of conceptual and abstract art as a possible feature of my work. I am hoping to come up with an overarching narrative for my project as I don’t want to end up with disconnected images and ideas although I might have to do some experimentation first. Some of my ideas I like but I’m unsure as to how I would actually represent them.
