ECO ART- INTERMEDIATE

Ecological Art or “Eco Art”

Aim: for a discussion lesson

Level: Intermediate+

Interdesciplinary project with the art teacher

-a contemporary form of environmental art created by artists who are concerned about :
-local and global environmental situations
The field is growing rapidly with hundreds of artists working around the world. For this reason, there are multiple definitions of “Eco art.”
improving the human relationship

to the natural world

through

the visual art experience and products.

This art-environment-functional concept can take many forms, including:

1. education,
2. advocacy,
3. negotiation,
4. action. 
Much environmental art is ephemeral, designed for a particular place (site-specific).
It involves collaborations between artists and others such as scientists, educators and community groups.

Some environmental art:

• Interprets nature, creating artworks to inform people
• raises awareness about nature and its processes, and/or about environmental problems we face
• Is concerned with environmental forces and materials
• Re-visions the human relationship to nature, proposing and inspiring new ways for people to co-exist with their local environments
• Reclaims or restores damaged environments artistically

Ecoartists challenge perceptions using

-         metaphor,

-         poetry,

-         symbols,

-         images and

-        narrative

                  to translate ideas.

 Ecological art or eco-art:
- addresses both the heart and the mind
- is created to communicate

Paraskevoulakou A, English  teacher

Ionidios Experimental High School  Fall 2012



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“Nothing is confused except the mind.” – Rene Magritte It’s actually quite a fitting quote for artitsts and art therapists alike. If you believe art can reflect and communicate what is happening in a person’s mind, then take a look at some of Magritte’s art and tell me if you’re a little confused or not.

A little bit about Rene MagritteRené François-Ghislain Magritte lived from 1898 to 1967. He was born in Hainaut, Belgium on November 21, 1898. He died of cancer at the age of 69 in Brussels. Magritte’s mother committed suicide when he was only 14 years old. He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Brussels. His art was influenced and inspired by Cubism, Futurism, the Purists, Dadaism, and Surrealism among others. He moved to Paris in 1927 where he really solidified his voice and style.

Painting not the thing, but its effect. – 
Art quote by Stéphane Mallarmé

I think what Stéphane Mallarmé was trying to get across here is that art is meant to have an effect on its audience. Sure, you can paint a beautiful mountain scene, but are you just painting a beautiful mountain scene, or are you painting the effect the beautiful mountain scene has on you?

 

Pierre Bonnard – Model in Backlight

“Painting has to get back to its original goal, examining the inner lives of human beings.”

Painting, and art in general, is often a reflection of the lives of people. Sometimes the reflection represents the lives of the people in the artwork and sometimes it represents the life of the artist. Examining art and what it represents is nothing new. Art therapy expands on this concept to examine the life of the artist.

 

 

 

About Pierre Bonnard

Pierre Bonnard was a French painter and printmaker, born on October 3, 1867. He was the son of a prominent official of the French Ministry of War. Bonnard studied law but attended art classes on the side.

In his 20′s Bonnard joined a group of young artists that were committed to creating symbolic and spiritual artwork. He is known for his intense use of colors, especially with small brushmarks and close values. His art is often narrative and autobiographical containing sunlit interiors with friends and family.