Exploring the World through Art and Travel: An Interview with Writer Travis Elborough
Discussing the Influences of Travel on Artistic Masterpieces
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Travel writers hold a unique charm, blending their personal adventures with broader cultural and historical contexts to craft narratives that transport readers to distant lands and times. They share experiences that delve into the essence of the places they visit, highlighting the profound impact these journeys have on their lives and work. Their stories often reflect a deep understanding of the world, shaped by the landscapes they traverse and the people they meet.
Travis Elborough is one such remarkable travel writer and cultural commentator. Known for his books that explore unusual concepts and themes, Elborough brings a distinctive perspective to the genre. His works are not just travelogues but rich tapestries of history, culture, and personal insight. With over two decades of experience, his diverse portfolio includes titles like "The Bus We Loved," "The Long-Player Goodbye," "Wish You Were Here," and "A Walk in the Park: The Life and Times of a People’s Institution."
In addition to these, Elborough has penned "Atlas of Forgotten Places," "Atlas of Unexpected Places: Haphazard Discoveries," "Atlas of Vanishing Places," and "Atlas of Untamed Places: A Voyage Through Our Extraordinary Wild World (Unexpected Atlases)." These works reflect his fascination with exploring and documenting the world's diverse and often overlooked corners.
Elborough's latest book, "The Artist's Journey: The Travels that Inspired the Artistic Greats," continues this tradition of thoughtful exploration. This volume invites readers on a captivating voyage through the lives of renowned painters, revealing the transformative power of travel in their artistic endeavors. As part of the Journeys of Note series, it intricately weaves the personal stories of artists with their exploration of new landscapes, resulting in a tapestry of inspiration, culture, and creation.
"The Artist's Journey" delves into the profound impact of travel on thirty influential journeys that shaped some of the world's most iconic paintings. From Henri Matisse's immersion in the vibrant landscapes of Morocco to Katsushika Hokusai's capturing of Mount Fuji's essence in Japan, Elborough offers readers insight into the moments that sparked legendary artworks. The tales behind Marianne North's Indian paintings and David Hockney's California pool scenes come alive with fascinating anecdotes that highlight how the artists' surroundings influenced their artistic vision.
The narrative unfolds to reveal the diverse paths of other iconic artists, including Cezanne, Dali, Klee, Turner, and Matisse. Each artist's journey is meticulously dissected, offering readers a profound glimpse into the motivations behind their travels. Elborough skillfully connects historical events, such as wars and commissions, to the artists' motivations for their journeys, providing a nuanced understanding of external forces shaping artistic choices.
Beyond its exploration of art, the book touches on themes of self-discovery, transformation, and personal growth that often accompany travel. Through Elborough's narrative, we see how the artists' physical journeys mirrored their internal explorations, resulting in a deeper connection to their craft and the world around them.
In this interview, we delve into the making of "The Artist's Journey," exploring Elborough's process, the stories behind the artists' travels, and the broader implications of their journeys. Join us as we embark on this enlightening conversation with Travis Elborough, a master of weaving historical insights with contemporary reflections, inviting us all to see the world—and art—with fresh eyes.
What inspired you to delve into the topic of artists' journeys and their influence on their work?
This was the second book in the series. The first was about the journeys taken by writers, so artists seemed like a natural progression. It strikes me that the urge to strike out for new territories can be part of the creative process, literally and figuratively. Here, hopefully, we have both!
Essentially, I was looking for stories, or a story at least, of where an artist went somewhere and how that journey then resulted in a particular work or a shift in style. But also, the ways in which certain painters returned to certain places again and again and how that nourished them. In some instances, like Gustav Klimt, for example, and his summering on the Attersee, the resulting work (in his case, the landscapes) might not be their most well-known or critically acclaimed stuff. But we can’t underestimate its importance to their entire output; without it, who knows what they may, or may not, have been able to make otherwise.
It strikes me that the urge to strike out for new territories can be part of the creative process, literally and figuratively
Throughout the book, you connect historical events to artists' motivations for travel. How did you approach weaving these historical contexts into the narrative?
All artists are products of their time, no matter how much they might wish to be a force for change in their own ages. And so, situating them in their historical circumstances seems vital to me and vitally important when tracing their journeys and explaining why they might have taken them. The means of travel, itself, is often highly dependent on the technology of the day: it's the train service between Paris and Aix-en-Provence that allows Cezanne to retain a foothold in the region of his birth and shuffle between the two. Turner’s hunger for travel is largely stoked by the Napoleonic Wars, putting continental Europe out of bounds for British tourists for close to twenty years. While Monet and Pissarro might conceivably never have come to London if it weren’t for the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.
What do you hope readers will take away from the stories of these artists and their journeys?
Like the old motto of the British Broadcasting Corporation, I hope readers leave the book informed, educated, and, perhaps most importantly of all, entertained.
There were many, but I think I gained a far deeper respect for the likes of Berthe Morisot and Helen Frankenthaler and what they were able to achieve in their respective centuries, the 19th and 20th, as artists battling against sexism and the social expectations of their day. And equally their responses, artistically as women, to landscape and place. Ditto here with Georgia O’Keeffe and the American West.
How do you see the relationship between place and creativity, as portrayed in the book, influencing contemporary artists and travelers?
Contemporary artists and travelers might actually recoil from some of the attitudes and cultural assumptions of earlier artists. The environmental damage of a road trip or a flight might also weigh a little more heavily on the mind of a modern voyager. But hopefully, some of these stories will inspire others to venture more thoughtfully and armed with a greater understanding of the historical precedents, even if not to repeat some of them!
Were there any particular artists or journeys that resonated with you personally? If so, why?
I am not sure if it resonated personally, as such, but it’s one that I found the most moving because, in some respects, it’s one of the most tragic. And that is the story of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida and his country-hopping commission to capture all regions of Spain in a series of monumental paintings for the Hispanic Society of America. It is a commission that takes him nearly a decade and pretty much kills him, and by the time it’s eventually exhibited in the 1920s, his style of painting is considered completely old hat. I was rather haunted by that one.
Contemporary artists and travelers might actually recoil from some of the attitudes and cultural assumptions of earlier artists.
The narrative seamlessly blends historical accounts with a modern lens. How did you balance providing historical context while keeping the narrative engaging for modern readers?
All writers are readers, so I think it’s just a question of finding a voice that works for you and that then hopefully, will engage with a wider audience too.
Beyond its exploration of art, the book touches on themes of self-discovery, transformation, and personal growth. How do you see these themes intersecting with the creative process?
I guess I think they are just intertwined with it; we grow, change, and learn more about ourselves through creative endeavors.
The book features navigational notes, photographs, and maps to enhance the reading experience. Can you discuss the significance of these visual elements in connecting readers with the places that inspired the artists?
I think since we are dealing with a largely visual medium, it would be remiss not to make the book look as appealing as possible for the reader. Another hope for the book is that it sends the reader out to look at the art itself, and in some instances, also the landscape that inspired it, so a bit of a flavor of both seemed important. Maps too help give a sense of the lay of the land or the distances traveled.
"The Artist's Journey" invites readers to embark on their own journey of exploration and creativity. What advice do you have for individuals seeking inspiration in their own travels and artistic pursuits?
Keep an open mind, pack a notebook, pens, and pencils, look and listen, but don’t neglect your other senses, be kind; and clean up after yourself.