‘With Tree and Soil we underline the intrinsic beauty and value of nature. Connecting past and present, we examine the relationship people have with their natural surroundings. Following the radical transformation of the deserted landscapes around Fukushima, we often felt like archaeologists of the future, trying to understand what had happened in a distant past.’ – Antoinette de Jong & Robert Knoth
Tree and Soil
Antoinette De Jong & Robert Knoth
20.10.2021–13.11.2022
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Tree and Soil
20.10.2021–13.11.2022
The Dutch artist duo Antoinette de Jong & Robert Knoth photograph and film the natural environment surrounding Fukushima, Japan, in the wake of the nuclear disaster. Ten years ago, considerable amounts of radioactive material were released there from the damaged nuclear power plant following a tsunami. The works entitled Tree and Soil illustrate in stunning images how the environment has slowly changed and evolved over the years. The exhibition at the KUNST HAUS WIEN Garage features photographic works, a video installation, interviews, and illustrations.
The artists were inspired by the Japanese concept of landscape known as Fukei, which combines the characters for wind and light, two elements subject to change in a continuous play of light and dark. Poetic panoramic pictures show evacuated villages, fields, agricultural grounds as well as forests and mountains. Audio recordings create a soundscape of birdsong and running water, with lengthy video shots reflecting the process of slow marginal changes to the landscapes.
Guest curator
Iris Sikking
With the kind support of
mondriaan fund
Events
20.10.2021–13.11.2022