Nature as art

Environmental art is changing people’s view of the world by bringing it onto the canvas. PAUL LAMBIS meets a local artist who allows nature to do the talking

Since the Stone Age, when primitive man first pecked artwork on the interior of rock shelters and caves, artists have been enamoured with expressing how they see our natural world. Nature has always been used either as a simple addition to a painting to provide depth and perspective, or as the major focus of a work of art.

And in the 20^th century, many artists create works in partnership with the physical world, adding nature itself to their works, largely in response to growing global concerns surrounding the status of the environment’s health and our impact as humans on the physical world.

Environmental art has gained more traction since the 1990s, when artists began to think about their surroundings not simply as a lived or built space, but as a cohesive system in which people have a crucial role to play.

In Paphos, artist Elli Lestas hopes to highlight the importance of respecting all aspects of the environment through her work. “Nature has its own flow and rhythm, and all natural forms play a significant role in the ecosystem,” Lestas told the Sunday Mail. “Whether small or large, animal, plant or mineral, my art allows audiences to reconsider how they perceive the world around them, paying more attention to the minute and distinct parts that make up what we may overlook as a cohesive environment.”

Born in London, Elli went on to study at Camberwell College of Art and received her MA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths. She moved to Cyprus in 1997 and became involved in setting up a plant nursery, gaining an interest in collecting and germinating seeds. “It was a decision based on instinct and intuition,” she said. “I wanted to break away from the competitive art scene in London at the time, and Cyprus offered me that sense of freedom.”

Elli is now also internationally known for making a career of helping emerging artists embrace themselves and their creativity. Working from her studio in her home, Elli moves across several mediums, focusing on drawing and painting, modifying nature objects, and photography. “Although I work with a variety of materials to create my personal and expressive mark, my most frequently used medium is charcoal, as it allows me to work with tonal values,” she said. According to Elli, learning to work with tonal values in art is essential, as it allows the artist to create the structure of their piece.

As an environmental artist, Elli aims to work in harmony with the natural environment rather than disrupt it. “My inspiration to use nature and the environment came about when I started to be more in touch with my surroundings,” she added. “I enjoy capturing all aspects of nature through my camera lens, including seeds, birds, trees, landscapes, the sky, sea, animals, insects, and reptiles.” As ideas start to flow, Elli’s art begins to take shape, often on natural objects that have been modified in a unique way and sometimes returned to their place of origin. “Natural, raw materials are key to my work, allowing me to collaborate with nature in a direct way, rather than use it [nature] as a source of inspiration.”

Elli uses her art to boost environmental awareness, suggesting alternative ways of behaving for the good of the planet. “By presenting nature as art, the message is to acknowledge and respect all aspects of the natural world,” she said. “I draw attention to tiny seeds, as they are the source of all life, including the creatures that humanity often tends to exploit.

“Cypriot audiences have responded with great interest, particularly those pieces created with seeds. I think it is because they recognise many of the wild seeds in my drawings and understand their significance to both humans and the environment.”

Putting traditional paper and canvas aside, Elli is currently working on a series of rock illustrations, producing photorealistic drawings of butterflies, lizards, snakes and moths on suitable stones and rocks found in nature. “As I continue to evolve as an artist, I have come to appreciate that kindness, energy and intuition are words to live by.”

When asked about her legacy, Elli said she would like to be remembered for her works of art that inspire people “to reconnect with the natural world around us, and to open our minds to philosophical ideas about our own connection to nature and beyond.”

Watch the full interview on Culturescope on the Cyprus Mail’s Good Living portal