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

Editor: This is Keith Arnatt’s black and white photograph, *A.O.N.B. (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).* It’s interesting how the signs advertising “Teas” and “Bric-a-Brac” clash with the natural landscape in the background. What's your take on this piece? Curator: I see Arnatt highlighting the constructed nature of "natural beauty." He's pointing to the commodification of the landscape, showing how even supposedly untouched areas are mediated through commerce and consumption. Notice the brick wall, the handmade signs – all products of human labor. Editor: So, you're saying it's not just about the contrast between nature and commerce, but about how commerce shapes our view of nature itself? Curator: Precisely. How does the photograph itself, as a manufactured object, further contribute to this framing? Editor: That makes me think about how photography can also be a form of consumption, capturing and selling images of "beauty." I hadn't considered that. Thanks!