Land Squared

Land2 symposium on Mull was very interesting. Makes me wonder. Most of the speakers talk about engaging with the landscape and with its history - not a about engaging with a the viewer/observer/audience. "You can't guarantee that you have someone looking at or buying your work" says one contributor when I ask. I can't deny that these are artists and that they are making art - An Tobars main gallery is full of their beautiful work - the result of a field trip to Mull where each artist has used the surrounding landscape as a point of reference or in some cases as a source for their art pieces. You may not be able to guarantee an intelligent observer but don't we need to anticipate one and for that matter do we need to be conscious of our anticipation?