A.R. (Anna-Rosja) Haveman

Reimagining the Terraqueous: Ecocritical Art and Perspectives on the Dutch Coast

This dissertation foregrounds the ecocritical and creative engagement of contemporary artists with the tangible and imagined coast of the Netherlands. A selection of artistic practices is taken as an incentive to consider how the relation between land (terra) and sea (aqua), the terraqueous, is represented, questioned and reimagined. Art shapes and is shaped by societal ideas about nature. I argue that ecocritical art is situated, cuts across landscape dimensions, oscillates between nature admiring and scrutinizing attitudes, builds on both scientific and spiritual worldviews, and brings the artist intention back into the center of art history. By considering both the material process of making and the artistic and environmentalist intentions of artists, the dissertation brings tensions forth that are intrinsic to ecocritical art endeavors: between building on scientific and technological knowledge and challenging it; between raising awareness and taking action; between art making and art perception. Because of art’s complexity, and at times contradictory messages, it is an invaluable means for understanding the multifaceted ecological crises. This project aims to highlight how artists navigate these topics, while still creating ambiguous artworks. The majority of case-studies are from the twenty-first century, but two case-studies go back to the 1970s. The result provides insight into the myriad of idiosyncratic artistic practices. Each artistic practice constitutes their own contribution in a specific artistic medium and language. I argue that diversity is key in reaching different audiences.The in-depth case-studies show that: whilst artists might intend to radically question the status quo, their practice more importantly allows us to: notice complex interlocking dimensions of landscapes, become aware of uncertainties and realize the importance of collectivity.