The monumental land art of Nancy Holt, a key figure in the 1960s and 1970s movement, is receiving its first UK retrospective at the Goodwood Art Foundation in Sussex. Holt, who died in 2014, is best known for her 1976 work Sun Tunnels, installed in the Utah desert, where four concrete cylinders align with the cosmos. The exhibition, titled MOONSUNSTAR EARTHSKYWATER, brings together her photographic work, films, poetry, and installations, both indoor and outdoor.
Early Influences and Themes
The exhibition's centerpiece is a small sheet of paper from 1969, a concrete poem that reads "MOONSUNSTAR EARTHSKYWATER," reflecting Holt's enduring fascination with circular forms and systems. Curator Ann Gallagher notes, "Circles appear frequently throughout her work. They are framing devices that give you a way of looking at the world, but they also link to her interest in systems – in the skies, on the Earth and in life."
Key Installations
Visitors are greeted by an installation of ventilation pipes that extends from the gallery into the landscape, highlighting hidden systems that sustain life. Another installation, Mirrors of Light, uses a single light source and mirrors to project ellipses on walls. In a chalk quarry on the grounds, Hydra's Head features six round pools of water arranged according to the Hydra constellation, making invisible cosmic systems briefly visible.
Holt's Background and Legacy
Holt studied biology before moving into art. She was married to Robert Smithson, creator of Spiral Jetty, and after his death in 1973, she curated his legacy alongside her own. The Holt/Smithson Foundation was established after her death, with a sunset clause ensuring it closes in 2038, the year of their joint centenaries. Gallagher remembers Holt as "down to earth, relatable, friendly and informed," noting a playful graph in the exhibition that plots her fluctuating identity as artist, feminist, and mystic over 24 hours.
Key Works in the Exhibition
- Sun Tunnels (1976): Four concrete cylinders aligned with solstices and star constellations, emphasizing human scale within the vast desert landscape.
- Hydra's Head (1974): Six water pools arranged like the Hydra constellation, placed near the Niagara River, later filled with gravel after its residency.
- Trail Markers (1969): A photographic series capturing small orange circles on Dartmoor rocks, used to guide hikers, reflecting Holt's interest in human constructs within nature.
- Ventilation IV: Hampton Air (1992): A site-responsive work drawing attention to hidden infrastructure systems.
- MOONSUNSTAR EARTHSKYWATER (1969): A concrete poem that encapsulates Holt's preoccupation with cosmic and earthly systems.
The exhibition runs from 2 May to 1 November at Goodwood Art Foundation, near Chichester.
