People’s relationship with nature is often considered as primal and the idea that something is ‘natural’ often refers to its original state. It is evident that there is a clear juxtaposition between ‘natural’ and ‘man-made’ despite the fact that the two are often part of the same environment. In art culture the man-made is often portrayed negatively in comparison with natural elements that are quite literally described with phrases like ‘As nature intended’ and ‘Natural beauty’. These ways of describing the subject instantly promote a rhetoric that suggests that the opposite of nature is some kind of ‘other’, when the reality is that everything in the world is somehow part of nature, whether human or not. This can be dangerous, as viewers can become disconnected with parts of the world that are part of their own in a positive way.
Monkeying Around
Photographer Maciek Pożoga photographs Japanese Macaques in both natural and man-made settings, highlighting the connection that humans have with the mammals. By shooting them in a direct manner that engages with the subjects and their surroundings, the photographs highlight the crossover between natural and man-made environments, demonstrating that they are in fact part of the same entity. This is achieved, as the viewer can relate to the mannerisms and body language of the species. This instantly breaks down the barrier between the natural world and human influence.
https://www.maciekpozoga.com/assignments-collaborations/snowmonkeys
Dorothea Born explores this concept in her writing for ‘Nature gone wild’:
“We need to start seeing Nature in humans and the human in Nature”
So Sublime
The idea of The Sublime is associated with the notion that a great emotional response can be generated from an image of a scene or place. Sublime imagery can often appear visually uncomfortable, using scale to create a sense of grandeur that demands the viewer’s attention. This works well to create visual dominance that persuades the viewer to feel and react in a particular way in response to an image. While this might be effective in a commercial context, it does raise questions around how these types of images are used. By creating a narrative that portrays particular landscapes as negative, the viewer’s perception can be driven by fear and disgust that prevent a positive response or solution to what they are seeing. This is particularly the case with imagery that is used to show issues such as climate change, sustainability and human waste.
Edward Burtynsky’s photography of China uses The Sublime to connect with particular issues. Images of Chinese ship yards convey the work that China is doing to increase their fleets. The stature of the subjects featured instantly appears ominous, but there is actually a positive story behind the imagery that narrates China’s success as a major part of the World’s global supply chain.
https://www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/china
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