Udo, Nils. “Trees”. Photograph. Nils-Udo, Gasteig Munich, 1989. https://www.nils-udo.com/art-in-the-urban-space/?lang=en
Nils Udo is a German artist who is known for his pinpointed focus on environmentalist artworks including sculptures, paintings, and photographs. He was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1937 and was raised to appreciate the beauty of nature through German culture as well as work experience which he gained as a farming assistant in the Chiemgau Alps (Song, 2010). As Nils Udo grew in age, his fascination with nature continued to grow and heavily impacted his work as an artist. Taking a look at a specific piece of his work, “Trees” is a perfect example of Nils Udo showcasing his appreciation and conservational approach towards nature. “Trees” is a sculpture that was created by Nils Udo from branches of decaying trees in Munich (Udo, 1989). This work was created in 1989 and is “land-art,” which is a specific style of artwork popularized in the 1960’s-70’s that used materials from nature such as leaves, sticks, dirt, and used them to create a sculpture either within the area the materials were derived from or using the materials to create works that are showcased indoors (Tate Gallery, 2023). Nils Udo created many “land-art” pieces within Germany, such as “Trees” in Munich, and across the globe from France to Canada.
Nils Udo’s purpose in creating “land-art” was to limit the negative consequences of consumerism on the environment as well as to enhance the natural beauty of an area for the average individual (Song, 2010). Using items already found within each local environment helps keep the area free from potentially harmful and foreign structures or substances that could cause detrimental effects to local wildlife or plant life (Song, 2010). Nils Udo used this practice to display the beauty already hidden within local environments. Nils Udo is very passionate about preserving the environment and slowing the impacts of climate change which is why his works are centered around enhancing the beauty of an environment with materials that are native to the area.
Overall, the artwork “Trees” is important to German environments and Germany because it showcases the beauty of nature within its natural environment which pertains to trees from Munich for this artwork. Germany’s sustainable history and cultural significance of the environment aided Nils Udo in his artwork and his use of “land-art” which prompted his positions on environmental activism (Song, 2010). We can learn from this artwork and look for more sustainable resources within our own environment and use them to enhance our world as well as emphasize the beauty of the world as it is. These practices would aid in protecting the environment as well as limiting the use of over consumerism in the United States.
Resources
Dunne, Aidan. “Visual Arts: South: To the Waters and the Wild.” Circa, no. 105 (2003): 21–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/25563996.
The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery. “Land Art.” Tate Gallery, Accessed on April 23, 2023. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/l/land-art
Udo, Nils. Trees. Photograph. Nils-Udo, Gasteig Munich, 1989. https://www.nils-udo.com/art-in-the-urban-space/?lang=en
Young Imm Kang Song. “Art in Nature and Schools: Nils-Udo.” The Journal of Aesthetic Education 44, no. 3 (2010): 96–108. https://doi.org/10.5406/jaesteduc.44.3.0096.