Unkempt was an exhibition recognising the advent of a changing aesthetic in landscape – one that is by its nature wild, messy and more empathetic to the environment. On view in the Long Gallery at Messums Wiltshire, Unkempt showcased established and emerging artists whose work invites questions on how aesthetics can preconfigure our opinion about the environment and help us to discover a different way of finding beauty in our landscape.
A growing awareness about the importance of biodiversity has led to a more nuanced understanding of what the landscape is for and what it means for us. As part of this the very look of our countryside is being questioned as government policy, conservation projects and new thinking heralds a change in our national understanding of the rural idyll.
