cadi blog: Landscape and the Sublime

1. Define the Enlightenment, including its context (time and place).

The Enlightenment was an era or movement in 18th century europe and america. It was an movement in which people began to believe in science and reason over religion. They still very much believed in a god heaven and hell, but they thought while man was on earth he would be able to determine his own fate.

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

The sublime is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as 'of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe'. This is mostly seen in art as a huge or vast landscape that makes the audience feel overwhelmed and small.

3. Explain how the concept of the Sublime came out of Enlightenment thought.

The concept of the sublime came out of the enlightenment because artists drew away from painting religious or mythological concepts. They started creating paintings that reflected on the world around them. This meant things like still life and landscapes (which later developed to the concept of the sublime.)

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Include some quotes from art critics and other writers who have written about his work.

Richard Misrach's work makes the viewer feel small and overwhelmed by the environment. It is said his pieces are of 'an aerial perspective of human interaction and isolation' (http://www.cityarts.net/event/richard-misrach/) And on his work 'On the Beach': "the individuals in Misrach’s latest images seem every bit as vulnerable as the world that they occupy. The work is at once more urgent and more poetic as a consequence."

5. Add 2 new images of his work to your blog.

6. Describe how does Misrach's photography makes you feel. How does it appeal to your imagination?

His photography makes me feel very small. It makes me believe that there are still large areas of land that are almost untouched by civilisation but accessible to humans. I especially like the aerial shots because it makes me think of planes and how people can see of such vast and beautiful landscapes from the air.

7. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.