Art as Conversation with Nature: A Reflection on Eco-Mythic Arts
Have you ever thought about art as a conversation with the earth?
Through the years, I have often wondered about this question. By working closely with materials, especially those I have found in nature or been gifted, I have come to realise that art-making can be more nuanced than just about self-expression; it can also be about engaging in a conversation with something far greater than us - the incredible world we inhabit. The land beneath our feet, the ever-changing sky, the moody sea, the way the trees move with the breeze and maybe even spirit (however that may look for you). For me, the art-making process has increasingly become a way for me to deeply listen.
At its heart eco-mythic arts is the practice of using creativity to engage with the deeper wisdom of nature and explore the relationship between humanity and the more-than-human world. It is a dialogue where nature speaks, and as humans, we can respond through our creative expression, which I feel opens up so much beautiful potential! This conversation is central to my artistic practice, and is further explored in my Eco Mythic Arts Series on my creative website Liminal Wilds. In this blog, I will briefly share how this process of listening to nature shapes my own creativity and way of engaging with the world.
A personal land-based installation shaped like a nest and created with leaves, sticks, and found objects gathered from Darebin Parklands, Fairfield, Wurundjeri Country. A conversation between me and the land- leading me to new understandings around care for self and for our natural habitats.
A Dialogue Beyond the Self
When we create, it is often considered a solitary act, and as a way to reflect on our own inner world. But over the years, I have slowly come to believe that creativity and the art-making process can also be a way to listen to the stories that bubble up from everything around us. In the act of creating, we are not only engaging in a conversation with ourselves, but also with our landscapes, creatures both big and small, and the extraordinary and intricate ecosystems we inhabit- both urban, rural and oceanside.
This is where the concept of eco mythic arts comes in. It is a way of acknowledging that the art-making process and art itself can act as a bridge - a translator of sorts - and a way for us to engage in a reciprocal conversation with the more-than-human world. Through the process of creation, nature converses with us in its own unique language, and in turn we respond with our own unique human expressions. In a way, we become conduits for earth's wisdom, which can manifest through our sculptures, paintings and poetry.
Translating Nature’s Wisdom
This conversation is translated into the shapes we carve, the colours we choose and the words we write. Each creation becomes an expression of the wisdom found in this exchange. The textures of a stone, the detailed edges of a leaf decomposing, the flow and rhythm of a local creek- are not only visual cues but are also carriers of old stories and knowledge, woven into the kaleidoscopic fabric of all that exists. Through art making, we become active participants in an ongoing and timeless dialogue between humanity and nature. In a way, I believe creativity helps amplify the messages that have always been there- and expressing them helps others to experience them as well.
Seed Mandalas- a playful creation made whilst sitting in the morning sunlight. This simple creative expression was inspired by nature’s patterns, becoming an active dialogue between what I see and feel in nature and what emerges through my hands. Castlemaine, Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Victoria, 2018
The Stories the Earth Holds
Every body of water, every spindly tree, every smooth, tumbled pebble holds a story, a memory, and the energy of life itself, and we can tap into this immense source of knowledge and energy through our creativity. When we make art with the earth in mind, we invite this energy to guide us and inform our work. This is especially true when we create in an emergent, rhizomic and non-linear way (a way of artmaking I explore in my blog article Rhizomic Musings: Finding the Unexpected in Art & Healing). By creating in this way, I believe we not only deepen our understanding of ourselves but also the wondrous fabric of life that we are all inherently a part of.
Why this Matters, Especially Now
In times of personal and ecological distress, through the act of listening to nature -slowly and deeply, I believe we can not only begin to heal ourselves but also build stronger relationships with nature, which can lead to reciprocal healing and regeneration. Any small, simple act of artmaking can reconnect us to the world around us and remind us that we are woven into it. This is such an extraordinary gift.
How does nature inspire your own creativity? How does the earth speak to you through your art?
If this brief exploration of art and nature resonated with you, I invite you to explore my Eco-Mythic Series on my creative website- Liminal Wilds- where I continue to reflect on the intersection between creativity and the more-than-human world.
If you are seeking some nature inspiration, please head to my gallery, Nature’s Palette.
To stay connected and discover more nature-inspired art and thought-provoking articles on ecology and well-being, you are also welcome to join my Facebook page, The Biophilia Effect: Arts, Ecology and Wellbeing.
Nature is indeed inspiring!
A rainbow can be a beautiful reminder that nature is inherently creative. This image reminds me of hope, and that even after a storm the sky speaks of wisdom and connection through colour and light. Castlemaine, Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Victoria, 2018
