Alternative Perspectives: Art Illustrating the Interconnectedness of the Natual World

For centuries, artists have found inspiration in the natural world. However, as the consequences of climate change are becoming more prominent in the world's consciousness, artists are not just capturing the beauty of the world around them but also communicating the importance of protecting it. Acknowledging that the world is interconnected—from the smallest to the largest organism—is one message often found in these works. While artists have used many methods and materials to communicate this idea, some have chosen a material that epitomizes interconnectedness—fiber. Using fiber (thread or yarn), artists such as Australian fiber artist Meredith Woolnough and British textile artist Amanda Cobbett use free-machine embroidery to create sculptural objects that focus on some of the most delicate, foundational, and microscopic elements of the natural world—from larger organisms such as fungi and moss down to individual cells. Alternatively, artists like Brazilian Alexandra Kehayoglou communicate this interconnectedness through a more expansive perspective; manipulating yarn to create hand-tufted sculptural installations, Kehayoglou often depicts a bird's-eye-view of native landscapes. While these artists approach this issue from opposite perspectives—micro and macro—each one offers the viewer a new view of what remains of the natural world.