What is environmental art?

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this activity students are asked to examine the three main forms of environmental art: 1. Art that is inspired by the natural world; 2. Art that celebrates personal engagement in nature; 3. Art that directly addresses environmental issues. Students are first asked to assess three different works of art, and then choose a work of environmental art that interests them and analyse this work. Students may present their responses to the class.

Learning goals:

Students recognise that there are multiple forms of environmental art.
Students recognise the visual conventions used by of a range of environmental artists.
Students critically analyse some of the visual intentions used by environmental artists.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Years 7 & 8 Visual Arts

Develop ways to enhance their intentions as artists through exploration of how artists use materials, techniques, technologies and processes (ACAVAM119)
Analyse how artists use visual conventions in artworks (ACAVAR123)

Topic: Sustainability

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity and facilitate discussion

Resources required: Internet access, access to library, student worksheet, Prezi.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities, presentation creation.

Homework and extension opportunities: Includes opportunities for extension.

Keywords: Environmental art, nature, artists.

Artists used in this resource:

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation:

Overarching learning goal: By participating in this activity students will recognise that there are multiple forms of environmental art. They will identify ways to critically analyse the intentions of a range of environmental artists and will recognise a range of visual intentions used by environmental artists.

Teacher content information: If creating and looking at art helps you to explore the world, then it makes sense that artists would incorporate the natural environment into their art. Increasingly, environmental art is being explored as a way of interrogating human relationships with the natural world and as a way of improving our relationship with nature.

However, not all environmental art is about taking environmental action. Broadly speaking, environmental art can be broken down into several loose categories:

Art that describes the natural world;
Art that celebrates personal engagement in the natural world; and
Art that directly addresses enviro

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: What is the environmental impact of art?

What category of environmental art do you think these three works align with and what messages are intended by the artists? Answer the questions associated with each work:

Work 1.

What can you see?

What category of environmental art do you think this represents (celebration of our environment, personal relationship to the environment, commentary about our environment)? Justify your answer:

What do you think the artists wanted to show in this work?

What visual conventions has the artist used in creating this work?

Work 2.

Describe this work in 25 words or less:

What type of environmental art do you think this represents (celebration of our environment, personal relationship to the environment, commentary about our environment)? Justify your answer:

What visual conventions has the artist used in this work?

What do you think the artist wanted to show in this work?

Work 3.

Isaac-Cordal-climate-change-4

What is your first thought

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Activity: What is environmental art?

Activity Introduction