When nature becomes the canvas

Nature has its deep connections and harmony with humans; there is a constant flow of sustainable mutual services that humans and nature exchange. Humans perceive nature from various perspectives; they see it as a sanctuary that embraces them, as a marvellous source of creativity that inspires the creation of artistic works, as a healer, and as a destination for relaxation.
Nature has its fair share of art and has inspired artists. Over the centuries, it has played the role of a refuge for artists and writers, allowing their creativity to be refined and sharpened, leading to the development of awe-inspiring movements and phenomena in various fields of art.
Under the soft sun of an Omani morning, where trees embrace the open sky like a dome interlacing its branches, casting shadows over water and allowing delicate strands of sunlight to slip through them, the scene stands as an artistic view, with the shimmer of water inspiring artists.
In that inspiring surrounding, artists take it as a landscape for their gallery; one that does not hang on walls but breathes within the environment itself. “Art and Place” forum emerged as one of the pioneering initiatives in Oman that redefines how art is created and experienced through its deep connection with nature.
Dr Amal Al Asmaili, one of the participants and organisers of the event, and an assistant professor at the Sultan Qaboos Univeristy Art Education Department, whose dual role reflects the forum’s integration of academic insight with artistic practice.
The forum served as a dedicated platform for environmental art, offering an evolving field where creativity and ecology intersect. What sets this forum apart from other conventional exhibitions is the way it invited audiences into a living, unfolding process. Dr Al Ismaili, described the initiative as “a qualitative step in the contemporary art in the Sultanate of Oman, as instead of merely displaying artworks, art is performed which redefines the relationship between the artist, the environment, and the audience.” Such an atmosphere allowed visitors to witness the intimate dialogue between the artist and the environment.
This initiative featureed eleven Omani environmental artists, joined by international residents from Hungary, Algeria, and Egypt. This diversity of backgrounds creates a dynamic cultural exchange, where different artistic philosophies and practices intersect. While all the artists gathered with the aim of exploring the relationship between human presence and the natural world, each artist still reflected their own unique interpretation of place; some work with natural materials, while others responded conceptually to space.
She added that the interaction between artists and audiences during the creative process allowed for a deeper, more immediate understanding of environmental art, while reinforcing its role in raising awareness of today’s environmental issues. She also pointed out that involving students in such experiences is a meaningful investment in shaping a generation with a stronger artistic and environmental awareness.
The forum is organised by the Art Education Department at Sultan Qaboos University, under the guidance of the research group “Alwan Al-Fann” collective, in collaboration with the College of Science. This interdisciplinary partnership reflects a growing recognition that environmental awareness is not solely the domain of science, but a shared responsibility, with art serving as a unique way to communicate it.
What distinguishes “Art and Place” is its approach to interaction and participation. It sets a platform where students from the “Alwan Al-Fann” group work side by side with artists, engaging directly in the creative process; offering students a rare opportunity to develop their artistic skills through observation, experimentation, and collaboration, while moving them away from purely theoretical learning.