The Natural Landscape Through Art
Art is a timeless constant that reflects back to us the rhythms of life we have forgotten. Through brushstrokes, melody, movement, and verse, Art breathes life into what we have silenced, the soul of the natural world.
Art is not simply an abstract or reflection of nature, as it is like an echo. From ancient cave paintings depicting the movement of animals, to carvings and intricate beading, weavings and patterns of indigenous hands, to the designing of gardens today, creativity has always been humanity's way of honouring and interpreting the wilderness. It is through Art’s language that we remember we are not separate from the landscape, the ocean, the sky, wildlife and each other. We are all threaded together, all connected, all one.
A painting of a melting glacier does more than depict ice; it grieves, it warns, it implores. And a painting of howling wolves dramatically involves one in the tragedy and coldness of culling brought about through misunderstanding or uncaring of nature's intricate balance of wildlife and landscape. A sculpture forged from reclaimed driftwood reawakens the lost and forgotten trees into symbols of endurance. Poets write the wind into words, and choreographers let bodies move like rivers, fluid, forceful, alive. These artistic expressions provoke and stimulate something primal within us. It's the yearning to belong again to the Earth.
Art is activism, yes, but it is also unique. When we see the flight of a bird carved from stone, when we hear a whale’s song translated into a symphony, when we see the dancers as fluid wings in the air, we are reminded not just of what is at stake, but of what we love. Love is the root of all protection. The forest is no longer an abstract ecosystem; it is a sanctuary. The ocean becomes not a resource, but a companion. The sky no longer polluted becomes studded in diamonds, or fascinating clouds or beautiful sunray that for us is a retreat, a meditation, a lung of clean breath.
In this way, Art becomes the bridge between the human heart and the heart of the Earth. It invites us not merely to observe nature, but to immerse and feel and connect with it. To mourn its loss, to celebrate its resilience, and to hear its silent stories. Through Art, we are both witness and participant in the unfolding and evolving of life.
Let us not mistake Art as a mere enhanced accessory. It is a cry, a prayer, a protest, a lullaby, an expression, an inner freedom. It is the way we remember the scent of pine even after the trees are gone. It is how we pass down the memory of monarch migrations, coral reefs, and the tread of elephants. It is how we teach ourselves and each other to care again.
In every canvas, poem, story, dance and song lies a seed. Planted deep in our collective soul, it waits to grow wild. And when it does, will we once again walk barefoot on the Earth—not as victors or masters, but as one, as kin?
“The wildlife and the natural beauty of this earth are the heritage of all generations to come. We must act as their guardians.” – David Attenborough
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© COPYRIGHT Shirley Dunbar AFC
All artwork on this site is copyright of the Artist Shirley Dunbar and may not be copied, shared or downloaded for use without written agreement from the artist.
All stories and essays include the artist's own opinions, experiences, thoughts, ideas, imagination and creativity.