Mart Veelmaa

• Self-reflection: the Influence of the Forest and Nature on the Creation of Contemporary Art
• Tutor(s): Jaan Toomik
• Installations, videos

The work aims to study the influence of forest and nature in the creation of contemporary art, based on the author’s introspection and reflection, as well as the analysis of the experiences of various artists.

Forest and nature have been used mainly in the context of contemporary art by giving a new meaning to forest material, as a phenomenon of land art. What is more, artists, such as the Canadian Kim Dorland, look for ways to express the forest theme through their vision. Through conceptual art, forest issues are studied, for example global warming, clearcutting, and the impact of humanity on koalas dying due to forest fires in Australia. The focus of the current thesis is aimed at the direct influence of the forest and nature on the work of contemporary artists. In other words, it covers aspects, such as the motivation of artists to spend time in nature and the effects it has on their works of art.

The theoretical part of the study gives an overview of the various author’s visions of the relationship between man and nature and compares it with the materials collected during the interviews. In the practical part of the work, the author presents his project and analyzes it in the light of the research theme of the present thesis.

The hypotheses of the research are as follows: – The so-called cleansing practices carried out in forests and nature in general have an impact on creativity. – Contemporary artists use nature and the forest to recharge and find balance, not to create art directly on the spot.

The keywords: the influence of nature on the artist, the cleansing effect of the forest, contemporary art.

The fast life creates a situation where we also need more and more time to rest. The more we struggle, the more we attack our resources. Often on non-renewable assets, so we need meditation, good food, or violence to balance the emptiness of the effort. On the other hand, hedonism is honored. People post messages on social media from food pleasures to pictures about hiking. While people strive for the pleasure of pleasure, it is still a temporary condition that can break when a person’s life is hit by a crisis or difficulty. With the work “Massage table with Video of Bark”, the author offers an opportunity for double relaxation and enjoyment. Just as nature affects the soul, body, and mind, the massage table is associated with the so-called outside influence, which subjugates the “client”. The moment you trust yourself in someone else’s hand, the situation will take over, whether you like it or not. Like nature, it spreads power over man, being purifying, frightening, or painful from guilt. The tiny opening of the headrest is in itself uncomfortable for lying on the stomach, the head is under pressure, blood flows to the face, the field of vision narrows. The massage procedure forces you to be mindful, to perceive the experience with your body and face, pushed through a tiny slit – nothing. The author combines these two experiences into one. The “client” can watch the bark of a pine tree in a relaxing position on a white leather massage table.