Landart - what is that?
Country style. So far I had not heard anything of this art movement. The name evokes ideas of a kind of landscape painting, of billowing wheat fields and easels in the open air. Quite wrong, as we, a group of ten women, learn from Karin Bergdolt. The 38-year-old land-art artist organizes art seminars in nature, where the participants work in a creative manner according to Landart ideas. Landart means: Natural materials are used to create works of art in nature that are left to themselves. This brings back memories of the sand castles that I used to beautify the beach as a child. Creating art by consciously building something transient into nature sounds quite aloof in my ears. However, Ms. Bergdolt does not seem at all lifted, but as fresh and clear as a mountain peak in the morning light. I look forward to the Land Art lesson, which they will give us - still sitting in the warm, and listen to their explanations on the subject - in the open air. We want to go to "Paradise", a small valley in the Bergisches Land, which has something of everything - meadow, forest, water, as made for land-use purposes.
An hour later, I blindly amaze next to my partner Cordula. Karin Bergdolt had asked the group to divide into groups of two. Our first task: Each is led around blindfolded by her partner, for a perceived ten to fifteen minutes, speaking is prohibited. We should focus on our impressions as temporarily blind. I clasp Cordula's hand and feel immediately transported to another world. I feel as if we are walking far through an unknown country, although I hear voices again and again. Cordula lets me touch things, a tree trunk, or a stone on the ground; everything feels alien. Back at the starting point, I take off my bandage. Only a little bit in a circle led me my partner. Barely more than a hundred meters we were ever away from our starting point. I am impressed by how much my perception changes when I do not see anything and let myself be silently guided around the area.
Two land artisans in the forest
Next, I lead Cordula around. I decide to challenge her a little, and escort her by my arm into the undergrowth. Bend away branches that would otherwise hit her face, stop when a thick branch barred the way, and lead Cordula's hand down to show her that she must overcome an obstacle. At some point, we get a hysterical laughter from sheer tension, but he lays back quickly. I want to lead Cordula to a moat, but I decide as I set foot on the steep, slippery slope. I feel little desire to slip with my stowaway on the arm and flop in the ice-cold water.
The felt quarter of an hour is over, I'm returning to Cordula. She is really excited about the tour I did with her. Now begins the second, creative part of the Landart seminar: We are to process with the help of the natural material that surrounds us, to which the little wordless hike has inspired us. Cordula is immediately on fire. She falls with the words "I'm going to build a moss bed over the water!" back to the undergrowth.
The other participants are also spread out on the grounds. Marion and Barbara build a city of stones, on a clay-gravel island in the water. This gets Marion wet feet, no fun at eight degrees and no sun. Nevertheless, she shines all over her face.
Kathrin rolls stones ...
... to a ground sculpture.
Lisa builds a miniature "Garden of Eden", and Kathrin arranges stones in succession, which are smaller, then larger again. "With that I want to make visible how to approach someone and get away from each other," she explains on the final tour, where all Landart works are examined and explained by the creators.
Cordula on her bed.
Only one missing - Cordula. She's still working on her bed over the water, I realize, as I search her in the undergrowth. Only with difficulty can I iron loose them from the Moosbettbau. For the rest of our country artists, the cold has long since fallen into all limbs, and we want to go. "I've always wondered what I'm doing there," Cordula says thoughtfully to me on the way back. "Nature just seemed perfect to me, there's nothing to beautify." That makes sense to me. As the only participant, I did not manage to land. I did not want to spoil the simple yet impressive blind walk into something visible. However, I am a bit jealous of Cordula's bed of moss.
info
Keyword "Landart" Landart originated in the 1960s in the United States. Originally, "landscape art" had a socially critical concern.The sometimes huge artifacts in the open air should be art outside of a commercial access and exploitation opportunity. The most well-known European representative is the Brit Andy Goldsworthy (galleries with recordings of his art are available here), as the most well-known country art work is traded Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson. However, Landart does not have any special significance in the art business today; Land art courses offered by artists or art educators, above all, want to convey the participants' enjoyment of artistic activity in and with the help of nature.
CoursesLand art courses are offered for example by womenoutdoors.de. Cost: 58 euros per person for a day seminar.
also Landart Festival 2006 Greenmuseum.org "Arte TV" post about Andy Goldsworthy
