I have gone back to 'Between Landscape Architecture and Land Art' to consider more of these artists and their work. The interviews recounted were followed up with further reading. Hannsjorg Voth is a German artist born 1940, who has according to one website: 'desire to investigate the elementary relationships in nature and their fundamental connections with man'. He is particularly known for the works he has created in the Moroccan Desert. The first of these, 'Himmel Streppe' Sky Stairway, was built 1985-87. It has echos of ancient calendars and pyramids, and stands alone 'marking a place' in the desert and (according to Weilacher) linking the earth and the infinity of the sky. It is constructed of mud bricks and contains living quarters. There is a well nearby and seen on his wife's photograph' 'Goldene Spirale' (Golden Spiral built 1993-97), can be seen from the first. It is 3m tall at the centre, but from there there is a staircase descending 27 steps to two areas for working and living, then a further 100 to a well on which floats a symbolic boat 'protected by a shrine' (p58), and 'immersed in meditative contemplation of the origin of life' 'Stadt des Orion' (City of Orion 1998 - 2003) is the 3rd of his major works in the desert, seen on the left as a plan, relating to the stars and completed (R). The towers are built in proportion to the size and brightness of the stars in Orion. Like the other two, it has a well so is of use to the local population. In contrast, Voth has also created urban public works . 'Zwischen Sonnentor und Mondplatz' (Between Gate of the Sun and Court of the Moon ) is in the street area linking the different parts of the European Patent Office. He was initially reluctant to accept the commission in Munich because it involved tailoring his design to a particular site and to a human scale. It is likely that without the title many passers by would appreciate it significance, but as street art it certainly seems to add quality to a previously dull space. At noon the suns rays travel through the 'gate' across the pool of shallow water which contains representations of the phases of the moon. The work reminds me strongly of the Chinese Temple of Heaven seen in this image (taken as a photo of my postcard montage). The Temple was built in the reign of the Yongle Emperor as a place of ritual animal sacrifice, where the Emperor as representative of the sun, twice a year implored the heavens for a good harvest. Voth uses ancient religious imagery and symbols from the Egyptians, Phoenicians and the Aztecs. He seems to be positioning the artist - and perhaps himself - in the position of a priest, intervening and interpreting for society. On page 65 of 'Landscape Architecture' Weilacher quotes him as saying "Art has basically -like religion- always been a means of overcoming fears. Abstract, not tangible things were given artistic form. The ensuing objects were used in rituals. Whoever was best able to give material form to these fears, was an artist. In other words artists only gave visual expression to what was culturally and essentially necessary for people . The interaction can be traced through the history of all religions. " He uses symbols which have spiritual meaning and and is disappointed when people do not understand. " I dont see why I have to provide a visual work with words of explanation" but if he submits work for a competition " I can understand if and explanation is required; the people who have to make the decisions usually use words....and what is purely visual is not very accessible to them" and " people can only understand art if they confront it continually" Hannsjorg Voth creates work which is between Sculpture and Land Art with themes which relate to the physical universe, but he still has something to offer to those operating on a more human scale. https://www.sensesatlas.com/territory/architecture/hannsjorg-voth-connecting-the-earth-to-the-stars/ Weilacher, U, Between Landscape Architecture and Land Art. Birkhauser. Basel Berlin Boston 1999
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AuthorI am indulging my passion for ceramics by undertaking studies for an MA at UCLAN Archives
August 2021
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