02 Oct 2011

Andy Goldsworthy and David Nash at Robert Brown Gallery, Washington DC

Robert Brown Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of the works of British land artists Andy Goldsworthy and David Nash. The exhibition is the first at Robert Brown's new space in Georgetown. Extending through October 22nd, the exhibition will showcase stunning photographs of Goldsworthy's nature creations and Nash's charcoal drawings as well as one of his charred wooden sculptures.

As land artists, Goldsworthy and Nash engage in a harmonious dialogue with nature — working with and through the landscape. Relying on the natural world for materials, the two artists take organic and unrefined elements such as stone, leaves, and wood to craft art that celebrates the earth. Both artists take a formalist approach toward their work, rejecting romantic interpretations, and instead focus on the form and properties of materials. Both Goldsworthy and Nash emphasize the physical process of creating a piece. The concept of time also plays a major role in both artists' work and many of their creations are long-term projects.

Nash is widely known for his sculptures made from fallen or dead trees and which are minimalist and simple in form. To finalize their shape and appearance, he often uses fire to char the wood, creating blackened, mysterious works that emphasize pure form. Nash also works in the two-dimensional. As a way to reflect on his development as an artist, Nash creates charcoal drawings of his sculptural pieces where the personality of the wood often emerges from between the lines of the drawings.

Goldsworthy also creates works that endure cycles of growth and decay. With his hands as his primary tools, Goldsworthy is renowned for his sculptures made of natural materials such as leaves, sticks, ice, stone and snow. To capture the change his sculptures undergo, Goldsworthy photographs the life cycle of each creation. As most of his artwork is created in remote locations and is ephemeral, the photographs serve as way for Goldsworthy to communicate his art, providing an intimate view into the brilliance of his craft.

Both artists have exhibited worldwide for decades and are included in the collections of prominent museums in the US and abroad.