Avant-Gardism and Landscape Architecture

Abstract

A review of the sometimes conflicting theories of fine art avant-gardism provides a useful basis for examining recently designated “avant-garde” landscape architecture. We focus on the works and designers recently promoted as “avant-garde” or indicative of “new directions” rather than champion any one person or style. Although landscape architecture and fine art have separate and unequal histories, links between the two are implicit in an avant-garde label. Indeed this recent landscape architecture does express a more intensive, though selective, influence from the art world, particularly from earthwork and site-specific sculpture. However, historic and contemporary disparities between the two fields' artists, works, and contexts contribute to contemporary differences in intent and effect. The “avant-garde” designation appears increasingly fragile when “avant-garde” landscape architecture and early earthwork/site-specific art are compared. Such comparisons also raise questions about the respective powers and limitations of landscape architecture and fine art. However, independent of labels, this new landscape architecture merits attention on its own terms and can stimulate continued inquiry into the nature of good landscape architecture.