Landscape aesthetics in practice

ABSTRACT

This article introduces the concept of art-walking practice, and argues the case for using such practice as participatory action research in which other community members become co-researchers. The research is driven by the author's sense of loss regarding biodiversity and the consequently diminished aesthetic experience and quality of life. Alongside this the research described in the article is about increased community participation and responsibility. An existentialist approach drives the research which encourages and supports people's own creativity and resilience in the face of the current economic and environmental crisis. As a part of this, subjective aesthetic judgements are put alongside objective values for landscape. The research explores the role of art and knowledge in the context of place-making and phenomenology as a conduit for experiential learning. While the research is about landscape aesthetics, it is also very much about relational aesthetics; relational aesthetics and place-making. Distinct projects or interventions are described, these use an art-walking practice to develop and record people's aesthetic experience, while exploring a common sense of place and engaging people with landscape change processes.

KEYWORDS:

• art-walking
• relational aesthetics
• place making
• landscape change
• action research
• phenomenology