Temporary Site-specific Art

There are some incredible and interesting artists who create ite-specific sculptures and land art with nature as their medium. The use of sand, rocks, leaves, ice etc, which eventually are moved or erased with wind, water and weather. Photography is of course an important part of the art process, as the sculptures are so temporary. 

Andy Goldsworthy's site specific environmental works use rocks, leaves, sticks, ice, snow to alter the environment, commenting on how we affect the environment. He then photographs them. "Each work grows, stays, decays – integral parts of a cycle which the photograph shows at its heights... Process and decay are implicit."

Andy Goldsworthy

Jim Denevan creates large temporary geometric drawings on sand, earth, and ice that are eventually erased:

Jim Denevan

Andres Amador arts is another artist with a similar concept, using local natural materials that eventually dissolve back into nature. He calls himself a Earthscape artist. He is best known for creating large-scale artworks across the landscape, especially on beaches across the world. 

 

Andres Amador

Simon Beck is another similar artist who walks around in snowshoes to create geometric patterns in the snow. Taking hours to create the huge designs, he uses a compass and other aids to finish the mathematical masterpieces that can even sometimes look 3D when viewed from above.

Simon Beck

Calvin Seibert also uses the temporality of nature to create his geometric and architectural sand castles. 

Calvin Seibert

Michael Grab balances rocks as a meditative artistic phenomena in his stone balancing Gravity Glue;

"The process boils down to contemplative vertical stone arrangement; involving patience, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptation, slow-breathing, steady hands, and a host of other practiced skills… Gravity is the only “Glue” that holds these structures in equilibrium." 

Michael Grab