Robert Smithson- Land Art

Robert Smithson, SPIRAL JETTY, (1970) Great Salt Lake, Utah,holtsmithsonfoundation.org

Robert Smithson was an influential artist associated with the Land Art movement of the 1960s and 1970s. His work, especially his site-specific installations, engaged with concepts of interdisciplinarity and hybridity. His practice involved using various mediums, including sculpture, photography, film, and writing, to explore the relationship between art and its environment. He often created large-scale earthworks in remote landscapes, incorporating natural materials and transforming the perception of the site.

One of the most famous works is Spiral Jetty. The piece consists of a massive spiral-shaped jetty made of rocks and earth extending into the lake. Through this work, Smithson combined elements of sculpture, land art, and environmental intervention to create a visually striking and conceptually rich artwork.

He challenged the conventional art world by creating works that existed outside traditional gallery spaces, often in remote and inaccessible locations. Why? He wanted to reconnect with the environment.

Facts

• The lake is a terminal basin, meaning it has no outlet, causing the water to be dense with minerals, particularly salt.

• The area is inhospitable for most life forms, except for a few fish and brine shrimp.

• When Smithson constructed Spiral Jetty, the water was pinkish-red due to a specific type of algae, but if the water receded, it left sand in its place.

• Smithson's intention was to create a work of art that changed over time based on natural principles, influenced by the concept of entropy and the idea of things breaking down.

• The installation reflects the overwhelming power of nature and the smallness of humanity, drawing inspiration from various artistic movements and indigenous artwork throughout history. It also represents a shift from traditional gallery experiences, emphasising art's connection to the natural world and how the work changes with time. This highlights the question of how institutions should handle art that is meant to change and deteriorate, unlike traditional museum pieces that are conserved and protected.

• He chose to use basalt boulders of hardened lava found along the peninsula, scattered remnants of the now-extinct volcanos in the area.

• The spiral shape reminds us of a whirlpool or seashell (nature's Fibonacci patterns)

• The spiral shape creates a great number of opportunities where land and water can meet.

Casper David Friedrich, Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, (1817) artsy.net

Geometry in Nature: the Fibonacci Sequence, Montessori-blog.org

Although Spiral Jetty exists in a remote location, it can be experienced through documentation such as videos and aerial photographs. The Dia Art Foundation now oversees the installation and regularly documents the artwork due to its intended transformation over time.

Smithson's concept of entropy (within the context of land art, entropy refers to the natural decay and transformation of artworks in outdoor environments over time. Artists embrace the idea that their creations will gradually disintegrate due to weathering and erosion. Entropy symbolises the impermanence of human interventions in nature and prompts reflection on the transient nature of art and the environment) this is evident in the gradual disintegration of Spiral Jetty, highlighting the impermanence of human existence within the vastness of time. The installation serves as a reminder of the brevity of our lifespans and the continual process of decay and change in the natural world.

Smithson's engagement with interdisciplinarity is evident by drawing from fields such as geology, cartography, and architecture, he expanded the possibilities of painting beyond its conventional boundaries. His interest in hybridity and pluralism allowed him to transcend the limitations of medium-specific practices and create artworks that merged multiple disciplines and perspectives.

Furthermore, Smithson's work incorporated theatricality and performance art elements. For instance, his film Spiral Jetty documented the construction and experience of the artwork. This performative aspect added another layer of complexity to his practice, highlighting the temporal and experiential dimensions of his artworks.

In conclusion, Spiral Jetty evokes a sense of the sublime by us in a vast and powerful natural landscape. The overwhelming scale of the installation, combined with its remote location and interaction with the elements, creates a profound and awe-inspiring experience. I would love to see this first-hand.

Spiral Jetty can be connected to other artists like Richard Long, Nancy Holt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

It cannot be easily bought, sold, or possessed, as it exists within the public domain. Does the artwork turn order into chaos? I think so.

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References.

Khan Academy Video (no date). Available at: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/modernity-ap/v/smithson-jetty (Accessed: 11 July 2023).

Dia Art Foundation (no date) [No title]. Available at: https://www.diaart.org/exhibition/exhibitions-projects/robert-smithson-spiral-jetty-site (Accessed: 11 July 2023).