Nature in Art

Who among us hasn’t been enchanted by the beauty of plants, animals and natural landscapes while feeling concerned about the damage being done to the environment? The exhibition Nature in Art at MOCAK reviews contemporary attitudes of humankind to nature in works by visual artists. We will find affirmation and depictions of natural beauty alongside fears for the future of our planet expressed as post-apocalyptic visions of destruction. Artists also explore our inconsistency in how we perceive animals: on one hand widely anthropomorphised, and heavily exploited on the other. In works by early masters, animals and plants frequently played a metaphorical role, and MOCAK presents examples of current takes on this centuries-old iconographic tradition. We will also learn that organic objects or even living plants can be used as artistic media, and that it is possible to subjugate elements to harness them into artistic and creative processes and elevate them to the status of artworks. (Dorota Dziunikowska, “Karnet” monthy)