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

Editor: Here we have Keith Arnatt's photographic print, A.O.N.B. It presents this stark, almost industrial scene, and the title feels ironic somehow. What do you make of this supposed "area of outstanding natural beauty"? Curator: Well, that irony, that tension, is exactly where Arnatt wants us to be. It’s like he’s slyly asking, “Is this really what we consider beautiful?” Think of it – the bleakness, the discarded barrel. It's a far cry from Constable's landscapes, isn't it? Is he critiquing our romanticized views? Editor: I see what you mean. It definitely challenges the traditional idea of picturesque scenery. So, is he making a statement about the environment? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps, he's simply highlighting the gap between the label and the reality. It's thought-provoking, isn’t it? He pushes us to look beyond the surface. Editor: Absolutely. It really makes you question what "beauty" even means. Curator: Exactly! And that's the magic of Arnatt, I think.