A.O.N.B. (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) 1982 - 1984

Curator: Keith Arnatt's black and white photograph, titled "A.O.N.B. (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)", presents a stark contrast of elements in a landscape. Editor: It feels barren and almost desolate. The empty field and that strange structure in the foreground evoke a sense of abandonment. Curator: Arnatt was often concerned with the commodification of nature. The title itself is a commentary on how we frame and market idealized landscapes. Editor: The strange sculpture looks like a crude altar of sorts, or perhaps an abandoned feeding trough, symbolically polluting the natural vista. Curator: Yes, it disrupts the romantic ideal. Arnatt challenges the viewer to consider what we actually value when we designate something as "outstanding". It makes one wonder about accessibility. Editor: Exactly, what cultural values are we projecting onto nature itself? It's like a visual echo of our own disconnect. Food for thought.