Scénické krajiny – umelecký alebo odborný pojem/ Scenic Landscapes – artistic or special term

Abstract

Enjoying the beauty of his surroundings is an age-old human need, but the mind can never fully grasp the wondrous creations of nature and man’s arrangement, combined in such unusal harmony. Man pleased his soul when he saw beautiful things which created such an impression on him, and although he could not transport the landscape he saw with him, its image always remained in his mind. When man wanted to envisage this beauty as long as possible, he produced a replica in picture form. He was then able to indulge in the pleasure of looking at the beautiful scenery repeatedly, and for as long as he wanted, according to his own will. The emotional impact of a beautiful outdoor scene has been known for eons. Perhaps the oldest hominides went to elevated places and enjoyed their view of the world during the breaks between securing their own and relatives lives. Perhaps the first holy places of the people were taken from the beautiful coves in nature, but as time went on, man set out to enhance nature in his own image. And again, for his holiest places, he chose the scenes that he found so impressive and clearly visible from afar. In the plains, where there were no such places, man helped nature build artificial ridges of crowned temples of all religions. The desire to dramatise their horizons was made by architects, and this remains a feature of man’s creativity today. Pyramids, temples, cathedrals, towers, minarets and skyscrapers are the focal points of man’s view of the landscape wherever there are no gables or hills. Only then do they deligh in artists of all genres recording and transforming the splendour of the panorama and designing the hidden nooks for every man’s pleasure. Science and practice, technique and technology have also taken on the beauties of the landscape, scenery and panorama. Technique gave man the technologies to change his surroundings. Does utility outweigh beauty or vice versa? This question has been associated with decision-making since time immemorial. The history of mankind is accompanied by the experience that it is not always possible to find a well-advised solution, although compromise answers have been proposed. Science therefore examines what one loves in earth’s nature, it investigates that beautiful scenic landscape and determines how to evaluate this beauty and then reflect its values in decision-making. The current cultural landscape has 4 structures: its natural structure, its economic land use, human interests and limits and its spirituality. Each has its own aesthetic scenic value but each one constructs different forms of interaction, and none can exist without the others except in absolute wilderness. However, only part of this complex system is visible. The human eye registers only the relief and everything above it. It then gathers the rest from other data sources. This combination creates an indelible image of the landscape in the human mind, with the additional invisible facts giving the territory its unique “genus loci”. Moreover, our frequently researched landscape character provides only bare reality when based solely on its visible attributes, whereas “genus loci” evokes a mood, unconditionally supported by knowledge, feeling and romance. This mood has all-round positive effects on the individual and on society as a whole. It is therefore most worthwhile searching for, finding and then making accessible or building and comprehensively documenting appropriate viewing and outlook-points for the scenic landscape that pleases the human soul. These are well-invested funds that repay dividends to every society.

Keywords

• scenic landscapes