Land is a collaborative book written by Jeanette Winterson with photographs by Clare Richardson of Antony Gormley’s sculptures. The body of work was commissioned by Landmark Trust to celebrate their 50^th anniversary and it is an exploration of what it is to be human in remote places across the British isles. Gormley’s sculptures, created out of iron, are solitary figures that appear to stand guide over the landscape and perhaps represent the work done by Landmark Trust in protecting and preserving historic sites. 

Richardson’s images certainly capture the context of the installations, with suitability, passion and sometimes calm contemplation she renders soul to each sculpture. You soon forget that these lone figures are not human, it is quite easy to empathise with them as they stand watch over choppy seas and bleak landscapes.  

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Winterson’s words are written in prose throughout the book, creating imagery of their own. These prose not only describe Gormley’s work beautifully but also have a cohesion with Richardson’s images. Of the images ‘Warrior’ is on such image, the loan figure looking out to sea, standing with arms held back behind its back, waiting and watching. Winterson’s words say it much better: 

‘This metal man, both near to and far from our human forms, waits like a warrior-confessor. What is it that you have seen? What is it that you want to say? And I think it would be something to reach the same point of stillness, the end of action and beginning of contemplation.’ J.W 

This way of portraying the lone figure really speaks to me and I can see something of my own work in these photographs. Where I use myself in a woodland landscape, I aim to leave the same ambiguity to my imagery that we see in Gormley’s sculptures. Just hinting at a story to be told, leaving the viewer plenty of room to read and interpret. 

‘Although these works are temporary placements…’ A.G.  

The sculptures where only in place for one year, so this book containing Richardson’s images and Winterson’s word, is the only remaining evidence of this installation. This is not a big ‘coffee table’ photo book but a rather small tome, perhaps A5, hard bound and beautifully printed on Matt paper.  The design of the book is such that you can keep it in your pocket when visiting the landmarks trust locations, to read the words, look at the images and become one of these lone figures. A remote human in a remote place.  

‘The human body – house of the human being, so fragile, so temporary, and determined to last forever.’ J.W 

Resources

Gormley. A, Richardson. C & Winterson. J (2016) Landmark Trust book, ‘Land’

Richardson. A (website), https://www.clarerichardson.com/books/land/ [viewed 03.12.2020]