Song of the Earth

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For the past four decades, a resilient strand of contemporary art has emerged, where artists embrace the natural environment as their context and inspiration, distinct from traditional landscape painting. This work showcases six significant contemporary artists who engage with the landscape, utilizing natural materials and processes. Their methods emphasize observation and reflection rather than intrusion, setting them apart from the American Land Art movement. Herman de Vries, Chris Drury, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Nikolaus Lang, Richard Long, and Giuseppe Pennone, while not belonging to a specific school, share a deep empathy for nature and a commitment to working outside urban modernist contexts. Interviews with the artists, conducted by William Furlong, reveal diverse motivations and striking similarities in their concerns and methods. An introductory essay by Mel Gooding situates these artists within historical and contemporary frameworks, discussing others like Josef Beuys and Andy Goldsworthy. This richly illustrated book addresses the need for more information on a field of contemporary art that, despite its warm reception, often remains inaccessible to the public due to its character and remote locations. It is essential reading for those interested in contemporary European art and will appeal to anyone drawn to the natural environment.