This body of work explores the controls that man has placed on the landscape, particularly the controls that are set in place on what is considered to be the natural landscape; it also considers the notion of landscape as a leisure activity where regular pilgrimages to see a particular view occur.
As a commodity of the leisure industry, the landscape is altered to accommodate human intrusion. For example, wider-road access and signposts show you the way to experience the view seen in magazines or postcards. Lifestyles today tend to be busy and hectic, so a visit to view natural landscape is considered a healthy past-time. Although when the destination is reached, it now appears vital to have the standard tourist trap shop, cafe, and toilet facilities. Visiting the countryside has more to do with going out to lunch while obtaining some culture.
Even natural wildlife reserves are altered to provide ease for the visitors. As an example, many sites that allow access to the natural environment such as a scenic drive, or in this case a visit to the Newport Wetlands, involve a considerable amount of control. There are specified walkways and boundaries enforced that creates the opportunity to view particular areas without disturbing the wildlife. As if the landscape and its inhabitants aren’t enough for the spectator there are also pieces of art in the form of large sculptures to admire. In this particular case, is art there simply to enhance the natural space or to disguise the intrusion of technology and industry? (For example, Power stations, wind turbines or electrical pylons).
The landscape is no longer necessarily a wide open vista untouched and ready to explore. It is ordered for safe viewing where it can be a small pocket of controlled wilderness, surrounded by urban living, technology and industries.
Which Way To The View?
