Individual experience of freedom: intimate relations between human and nature in contemporary painting

Abstract

This dissertation belongs to the research category of fine arts, offering an in-depth analysis of the portrayal of freedom and human-nature connectivity in modern art, with a primary focus on paintings. Drawing from the author's personal encounters and reinforced by ideas from European Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and Pantheism, the research delves into the nuanced relationships binding humans and nature. By using the abstract medium of painting, the study provokes deep contemplation on emotions, autonomy, and individual existence, allowing viewers a more immersive understanding of the personal sense of freedom. Central to the investigation is the revelation of freedom as an essential emotional state for contemporary individuals, integral to our innate human essence and our interaction with the natural realm. The dissertation, therefore, establishes a holistic view of the interplay between human sentiment, artistic portrayal, and the vast expanse of nature, underscored by the philosophies of European Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and Pantheism.