Nykymaisemataide

Nykymaisemataide, translated as contemporary landscape art, is a term used in Finnish art discourse to describe artistic practices that engage with landscapes as their primary subject, medium, or site. It encompasses natural, urban, and artificially shaped environments and emphasizes the relationship between people and place. Works are typically site-specific, process-oriented, and interdisciplinary, crossing boundaries between visual art, performance, ecology, and urban planning. Media range from photography, video and installation to sculpture, sound work, and participatory projects.

Practices often address changes in landscapes caused by climate change, resource use, urbanization, and tourism, as well as the cultural and historical meanings attached to places. They may involve fieldwork, collaboration with local communities, or the creation of temporary or permanent installations in public or protected spaces. The works frequently explore memory, identity, and the politics of habitat, challenging traditional notions of what a landscape is and who has rights to it. They can be experienced outdoors or inside galleries through documentary or immersive formats.

Nykymaisemataide situates itself within broader currents of land art, environmental art, and Nordic landscape traditions, while remaining distinct in its emphasis on contemporary concerns and site-specific resonance. Critics and curators view it as a flexible category that reflects evolving interactions between society and the environment, rather than a fixed style. It plays a role in public discourse on ecological stewardship, urban development, and cultural heritage, often linking art with regional planning, conservation, and education.