ART OUT OF NATURE

 

Since 2012 I have been working on this concept together with ecologist Cor ten Haaf.

It is based on shaping the landscape in a new way, using local soil types.

Within this we try to forge landscape design, art and nature development into a coherent design, in which a good starting point is created for the development of high natural values.

 

The Dutch landscape has largely been shaped by human hands and is therefore artificial in principle. The layout is mainly based on practical considerations (battle against the water, infrastructure, recreation).

The polders and the parceled landscape reflect the straightforwardness of the Dutch layout.

The visual aspect mainly serves the function. Nature in this same landscape has long been regarded as a component that was approached primarily from the perspective of manageability and functionality.

This has been changing for several decades: ecological motives are increasingly playing a guiding role in this. Nature is increasingly involved in the design of the landscape. This is no longer just about nature conservation, but also about nature development.

Existing nature reserves are being expanded or connected by the layout of former agricultural land and urban fringes.

Our perception of what we experience as 'nature' is also changing.

It is precisely because of this that it is striking that 'nature' as it is organized is based on an ideal image, which can best be described as 'imagined wilderness'. They do their best, as it were, to make the newly designed landscapes look as 'natural as possible'. This again produces a landscape in which the design serves the function, even if that function is 'nature' in this case.

The concept 'Art from Nature' wants to approach this attitude in a new way.

 

A brochure is available for interested parties, see 'contact'