The Landless’s ongoing project, Southerly, revolves around the theme of “the relationship between nature and anxiety.” The project finds its origins in a passage from Hermann Hesse’s early work Peter Camenzind. In the book, the southerly wind, coupled with the sound of avalanches, evokes both a stirring of the heart and a reflective acknowledgment of human finitude. The immense structures of nature, represented by the southerly wind, comfort the human spirit while simultaneously provoking anxiety. How can these vast, natural forces inspire both tranquillity and unease?
Nature, in its essence, is a figure of infinity. Starlight travels from unimaginably distant realms to reach us, waves crashing on shores have stirred hearts for thousands of years, and the towering trees of forests will persist in their steadfast display of life’s resilience long after we are gone, unveiling their vitality through the changing seasons. This figure of infinity, existing beyond the bounds of perception, not only provokes a sense of discomfort but also compels us to reflect on our own finitude. To cope with the unease and discomfort arising from this realisation, humans attempt to reduce the incomprehensible into concepts within the bounds of perception. The undefined vastness is transformed in our minds into an “entity of totality or infinity,” becoming a concept that elicits the sublime. Moreover, humanity’s acceptance of its finitude leads to an awareness of mortality as life’s singular destiny. By acknowledging this, humans can unburden themselves of the existential weight accumulated while living within the assumption of infinity. Through this process, individuals come to recognize their existence within the flow of time, allowing them to affirm their present selves—not as anchored in the future or the past, but as active participants in the ever-changing moment of now.
Copeland Gallery will be split across five layers, each representing a conclusion on these themes and containing work across installation, painting, AV art, craft, performance and media art. The structural arrangement of the work ensures a coherent blend between these diverse mediums from an array of artists.
On Saturday 1st Feb there will be 2 workshops hosted in the space: Movement Workshop 14:00 – 14:45 / Meditation Workshop 15:00 – 15:30
Read more about the exhibition here.
This exhibition was made possible by Copeland Park’s Emerging Artist Exhibitions Programme.