New Materialist Ecopoetics in Ian Hamilton Finlay’s Little Sparta: The Garden as a Living Text

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 18 Sayı: 2, 277 - 293, 31.12.2024

Ayşegül Demir

https://doi.org/10.47777/cankujhss.1524218

Öz

This article explores Ian Hamilton Finlay’s Little Sparta through the lens of New Materialism, presenting the garden as both an aesthetic space and an active agent that redefines human-nature relations. Central to this study are concepts like agential realism, vibrant matter, and intra-action, which highlight dynamic interactions between the garden’s installations and their surroundings. Rather than being solely shaped by human intervention, the garden evolves through natural processes—seasonal shifts, weather changes, and plant growth—making it a co-creative, living text. The study emphasizes Little Sparta’s role in challenging anthropocentric views by merging poetry with natural elements, thereby advocating a holistic understanding of ecological and cultural narratives. Through the integration of art and nature, the garden dissolves boundaries, illustrating interconnectedness and fostering environmental empathy. As a space of continuous interaction, Little Sparta positions itself as an ecopoetic landscape that prompts visitors to reconsider their role within ecosystems. This approach not only enhances aesthetic and ecological engagement but also demonstrates how New Materialist principles can transform our perceptions of both art and the environment.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Ecopoetics, garden, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Little Sparta, New Materialism

Ian Hamilton Finlay’in Little Sparta'sında Yeni Materyalist Ekopoetik: Yaşayan bir Metin Olarak Bahçe

Öz

Öz
Bu makale, Ian Hamilton Finlay'in Little Sparta adlı bahçesini Yeni Materyalizm merceğinden ele alarak, bahçeyi hem estetik bir mekân hem de insan-doğa ilişkilerini yeniden tanımlayan aktif bir fail olarak sunuyor. Bu çalışmanın merkezinde, bahçedeki enstalasyonların çevreleriyle dinamik etkileşimlerini vurgulayan eylemsel gerçekçilik, canlı madde ve içten-etkime gibi kavramlar yer almaktadır. Little Sparta, yalnızca insan müdahalesiyle şekillenmekle kalmaz; mevsimsel değişimler, hava koşulları ve bitki büyümesi gibi doğal süreçlerle de sürekli olarak dönüşen, ortak yaratıcı bir ‘canlı metin’ niteliği taşır. Makale, şiirin doğal unsurlarla birleştiği bu alanın, insan merkezli bakış açılarına meydan okuduğunu ve ekolojik ile kültürel anlatıların bütüncül bir anlayışını teşvik ettiğini öne sürmektedir. Sanat ve doğanın iç içe geçtiği bu mekân, sınırları çözerek karşılıklı bağlılığı vurgular ve çevresel empatiyi güçlendirir. Sürekli bir etkileşim alanı olarak Little Sparta, ziyaretçileri ekosistemler içindeki rollerini yeniden değerlendirmeye davet eder. Bu yaklaşım, estetik ve ekolojik katılımı artırmakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda Yeni Materyalizm ilkelerinin sanat ve çevre algılarımızı nasıl dönüştürebileceğini de gösterir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Ekopoetika, bahçe, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Little Sparta, Yeni Materyalizm

Kaynakça

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