At the end of the 1960s, a new strand of Land Art emerged – one in which “the body of the artist was explicitly placed within, subjected to, identified with and even merged with the earth,” writes Ben Tufnell in his book on the subject. Notable names from the period include Ana Mendieta, known for the Silueta series, and Keith Arnatt, who famously documented himself disappearing into a hole. Margeaux Walter’s (b. 1982) Don’t Be A Square series builds upon this tradition. The photographer camouflages into the landscape: she can be spotted taking a nap on a lakebed, eating candyfloss amongst fields of purple flowers or reading a book in lush greenery. In these performative photographs, the boundaries between home, office and the outdoors blur. Everyday objects, including curtains, chairs and mirrors, are taken out of their usual context. The results are visually pleasing yet uncanny, asking us to think about our relationship with wild places. margeauxwalter.com | @margeauxwalter
Image Credits:
1&2. Margeaux Walter, Green Juice, (2022). From Don’t Be A Square. Image courtesy of the artist.
3. Margeaux Walter, Greenery. Image courtesy of the artist.
4. Margeaux Walter, Cholla Garden, (2022). From Don’t Be A Square. Image courtesy of the artist.
5. Margeaux Walter, Nap, (2022). From Don’t Be A Square. Image courtesy of the artist.
6. Margeaux Walter, Sugar High, (2022). From Don’t Be A Square. Image courtesy of the artist.
7. Margeaux Walter, Backstage, (2022). From Don’t Be A Square. Image courtesy of the artist.
