From June 2 to 7, 2025, art teachers Šárka Müllerová and Kateřina Truhlářová took part in an inspiring course titled Art and Nature, held on the island of Tenerife as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
The course focused on the connection between visual art and nature – with nature serving not only as a backdrop, but also as an active participant in the artistic process. The teachers had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from various European countries, including Italy, Germany, Slovenia, and Lithuania. Together, they created artworks in diverse natural settings across the island, which provided both unique inspiration and materials for their work.
One of the course’s highlights was the creation of land art directly on the beach, where participants drew inspiration from the shapes of stones, the texture of sand, and the colours of the ocean. Other creative activities took place in the shady corners of laurel forests or near banana plantations, where natural materials such as leaves, plants, trees, soil, stones, and water were used.
The course did not focus solely on technique or specific artistic methods, but rather emphasized the experience of creating and being in direct contact with nature. This deep and authentic experience is inseparable from visual art and formed the core of the entire programme.
Participation in the course brought both teachers new impulses and ideas on how to incorporate elements of nature and environmental art into their teaching practice, as well as how to encourage their students to become more perceptive of the world around them through artistic creation.
Šárka Müllerová
