Land art event transforms Plett

Armed with materials such as sticks, sand and cow dung, some of the world’s top land artists lead a process of temporary transformation at South Africa’s first international land art event called Site_Specific. 

Site_Specific created a model for using the power of land art to challenge and change people’s perceptions about their natural environment by linking art, culture, history and the environment.

The inaugural Site_Specific took place from 22-29 May in Plettenberg Bay. South Africa’s most celebrated land artist, Strijdom van der Merwe, and Swiss land art star Urs Twellman joined forces with conceptual and community artists to bring land art to all the people of Bitou Municipality. Cultural performances in nearby Kwa-Nokuthula and Kranshoek as well as New Horizon further added to the artistic atmosphere.

“Site_Specific is determined to make land art inclusive and accessible,” said Heather Greig, co-founder of Site_Specific, before the event. “We’re thrilled that top international land artists and some of South Africa’s most innovative conceptual artists have volunteered to mentor and collaborate with artists from the Bitou community to lead educational outreach programmes for local learners.”

Guided tours of unique open-air art displays took visitors on a 3km walk from Plettenberg Bay’s Central Beach to the Milkwood Trail in the Piesang River Valley. There visitors and locals alike reveled in the variety of pieces that will live on only in ther memories and the photos they took.

As part of a gift economy, rather than a market economy visitors were given the art to enjoy, with the possibility of this art effecting their daily lives, the way they view art, thier imagination and their realtionships with their surrounds.

Site_Specific fulfilled thier aims to use art to transform the land and the communities that share it.

More information: sitespecific.org.za