Tillage: John Newling

John Newling describes his site-specific work as a “collaboration with nature.” He believes we need to intensify our relationship with the environment, and his art is a means to that end. The word tillage, which Newling has used for the title of this show, means “the preparation of land for growing crops.” It is a metaphor for his practice as an artist. The work Ditching Leaves, for example, is made from leaves gathered from local gardeners. This thought-provoking exhibition examines Newling’s evolution over 40 years. —E.C.