Decolonial Perspectives on Land Art

In the 1960s, the Land Art movement emerged, also called Earthworks or Earth Art. This movement most commonly used natural materials found on-site, such as soil and rocks and is primarily associated with the American West. Land Art was a rebellion against the commercialization of the art world and connected to the ecological movement at the time. While this movement sought to challenge the status quo of the art world and express an appreciation for the natural world, it did so using a settler-colonial logic. This panel will consider different perspectives on the topic of decolonial critiques of Land Art. This includes questioning the use of natural materials that are sourced from stolen land, aesthetic forms that engage in cultural appropriation, the choice of an artist to alter the landscape, and what lies ahead for artists, scholars, and arts organizations who engage with Land Art. With the politics of land use becoming increasingly relevant, this is a key time to explore the legacy of the Land Art movement and discover what it has to say about land use, Indigenous sovereignty, and the arts. Topics can include the theory and practice of Land Art, the use and ownership of space, Indigenous approaches to Land Art, and new perspectives on the legacy of this movement. Another area of interest is reconsidering the terminology of Land Art from a decolonial perspective. Submissions from artists, scholars, and museum workers are welcome.