Landscape and the Moving Image

Elwes explores the relationship between landscape art and experimental moving image, focusing on artists from the 1970s to the present day. She argues that artists can provide an embodied, emotional response to landscape, which is essential for combating the environmental crisis. The book comprises a series of essays that explore how the moving image mediates our relationship to and understanding of landscapes, with a focus on identity politics, performativity, and animals. It is written in a clear, engaging style and is enlivened by Elwes's own experiences as a video artist, writer, and curator.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2022
Publisher: Intellect Books

Elwes embarks on a captivating exploration of the intertwined histories of landscape art and experimental moving image, unveiling how these artistic disciplines converge in the works of artists from the 1970s to the present day. Spanning a broad geographical spectrum, Elwes delves into profound issues that have long captivated film and video artists, encompassing ecology, gender, race, performativity, conflict, colonialism, and our intricate relationship with the nonhuman creatures that inhabit our world. Fueled by the belief that artists possess the capacity to offer an embodied and emotional response to landscapes, which is a vital catalyst in the urgent fight against the environmental crisis we currently face, the book emerges as a thought-provoking and insightful exploration.

Comprising a series of essays, the book delves into the intricate ways in which the moving image mediates our relationship with and understanding of landscapes. With a focus on artists working in film and video, the book draws upon a rich tapestry of work from the 1970s to the present day. In the early chapters, Elwes establishes a theoretical framework for both landscape and artists moving image, laying the groundwork for the subsequent chapters that delve into practice. These chapters address themes of identity politics, performativity, and animals, examining examples of British "weather-blown films" and work from diverse global perspectives, including Indigenous Australian film landscapes. Throughout the book, Elwes offers an informed and personal perspective on the subject, interweaving her experiences as a video artist, writer, and curator with the primary material derived from engaging conversations with fellow practitioners over the years.

Written in a clear and engaging style, the book is further enriched by Elwes's own experiences as a practitioner, lending a unique depth and authenticity to the narrative. The primary source material utilized in the book is drawn from extensive conversations with fellow practitioners, providing a rich tapestry of insights and perspectives. As a prominent figure in the early phases of vid, Elwes's contributions have left an indelible mark on the field, making this book a valuable resource for artists, scholars, and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 622g
Dimension: 170 x 243 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789385823
Edition number: New ed