Déirdre Kelly

TRACING RUSKIN’S STEPS : Landward View from Venice

Déirdre Kelly

Tracing Ruskin’s Steps : Landward View from Venice

A new map of Venice in the tradition of the panorama and of small fold out guides in leporello form, which were often formed of postcards of Venice. The quoted text writes of his ‘landward view from Venice’ when on a clear day the mountains are visible on the skyline.

A reminder of the historical links between the mountains and valleys of the hinterland and the watery city.  An intertwined relationship that starts at its very foundation, from the trees used in its construction, wood floated down the rivers and into the lagoon. The valleys traditionally known as the ‘Valli da Pesca’, refer to the fishing culture of Venetian Lagoon, the first traces of which date back to 11th century A.D. Nowadays this relationship can seem distant, and often even go unnoticed.

Significantly, my daily journey to the studio, retraces Ruskin’s footsteps, walking the passages of Venice with heightened significance of an invisible but still perceivable presence. Tracing Ruskin’s Steps is an antidote to the map embedded in minds of tourists, whether they have visited Venice or not, one that still holds reference to the tension between land and water and reflections in the suspended space between ‘real’ and ‘imagined’ Venice.

Déirdre Kelly  ‘Tracing Ruskin’s Steps : Landward View from Venice’

Edition 30

15cm x 113cm, published by SGpress on occasion of the ‘Enfolded Journeys’ touring exhibition.

2025

ISBN: 978-88-906253-2-9

25 Euro + P&P

deirdrekelly2012@gmail.com