Aug 16, 2018
Welcome back to Documentary Thursdays!
We’re back with another art documentary, this time for Andy Goldsworthy. It’s another nice break from the usual exposés about whatever horrible things the ultra-wealthy are doing to us nowadays. If you are interested in other art-related documentaries, check out “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” (Episode #019), “Exit Through The Gift Shop” (Episode #060), “Faces Places” (Episode #130), and “Stop Making Sense” (Episode #179). And if you have any favorite art documentaries, let me know at onemoviepunch.com.
And now...
Today’s movie is “Leaning Into The Wind: Andy Goldsworthy” (2018), the Magnolia Pictures documentary directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer. The film follows the work of Andy Goldsworthy, a British sculptor, photographer, and environmentalist, who uses natural elements in his artwork. The film follows his work in Edinburgh, London, the South of France, and New England, with stunning cinematography and provocative work. It is the second film by Riedelsheimer about Goldsworthy’s work, following up 2001’s “Rivers and Tides”.
Spoilers ahead.
We live in a world where many art forms are becoming increasingly digitized, particularly music and visual art forms. The digitization has many benefits, from opening up visual and aural mediums to the connected world, to the incredible advances in special effects and media access. However, it also creates a divide between artwork that can be effectively digitized and artwork that cannot, and creates a massive advantage for digitized art in terms of exposure and engagement. Which leaves artists like Andy Goldsworthy, who specializes in integrated, temporal artwork inherently unable to be digitized, in a weird and shrinking space.
Andy Goldsworthy’s style of environmental art reminded me a lot of an imaginative child at play in nature, but not in a demeaning sort of way. He simultaneously loves the chaos around him, but also tries to bring a sort of perspective-changing order to the location, in a more respectful manner than the usual man subduing nature framework. Some works last seconds, some do change the landscape in permanent ways, but all have direct and hidden messages within them. Goldsworthy provides some musings and insight into his process and style, always with a sense only being sure about being unsure, clearly present in some of his kinetic art, like crawling through the bushes.
The documentary, as a whole, has some noticeable drawbacks, though. Goldsworthy’s output has some truly incredible works that overshadow his less-impressive or less-audacious works. Not every artwork is clearly titled or located, creating some confusion while viewing. And while video is probably the best method we have for capturing kinetic, temporal art, I sort of got the feeling that Riedelsheimer and Goldsworthy were also experimenting with the medium itself, leading to some tone problems. I think the film does deliver an overview of his work and process, but I also think it feels like a rough draft of something that could be even better.
“Leaning Into The Wind: Andy Goldsworthy” (2018) is a nice introduction and overview of Andy Goldsworthy. Previous, permanent work is placed next to more kinetic and temporal art, along with discussion of his life and process. Fans of “Rivers and Tides”, or kinetic artwork, or art in general, should definitely check out this film.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Metacritic: 76
One Movie Punch: 7.4/10
“Leaning Into The Wind: Andy Goldsworthy” (2018) is rated PG and is currently streaming on Hulu.