LOADED LANDSCAPES: Human and Mother Nature

The space of a landscape exists, like almost every space, together with a variety of objects. What is fundamental for the experience of a landscape, however, is not the encounter of individual or multiple objects, but instead the experience of being under and amid all of these objects. Inspired by human dynamics, animal forms, and natural scenery, America Martin’s work reflects the appreciation of nature’s fleeting design. Concentrating on the human form, Martin makes a woman the main character of Woman in the Sage Leaves. Interested in the environment in which the figure is placed, Martin contorts the female figure with strong lines and bold shapes that push the boundaries of her canvas. As a result, the woman exists both amid, and in harmony, with the rest of the composition.

The space enveloping an artwork’s figure reshapes their environment and allows the viewer to perceive vulnerable beings amid a spatial occurrence. Creating a living space, photographer Brooke Shaden’s exploration of the literal and figurative space between illusion, perception, and identity questions how we, as viewers, give meaning to our experiences. Photographing an isolated figure within a vast terrain, her portraits offer a raw, voyeuristic glimpse of man’s relationship with nature and self. “Here the mirror pieces reflect the sky,” says Shaden. “Is it possible to see ourselves reflected in the world around us?” Blending in with the similar sized and colored glass shards, the figure and her surroundings collaboratively communicate themes of identity, discovery, and strife.