Immersion in the landscape: emotional and spiritual wellbeing

Amongst all the changes taking place in the landscape, one thing seems to remain constant: its capacity for inspiring wellbeing. One simple reason why landscapes are important is that being outdoors can make us feel happy. To have this effect, the location does not need to be anywhere spectacular. An urban park can be as significant as a mountain. In recent years the crucial psychological value of nature has begun to be understood and quantified.

Looking at nature in art can have similar effect. A landscape does not have to tell a story or portray any specific place to be relaxing and uplifting. When an artist has immersed themselves in a scene, enjoying the colours and shapes of nature to capture a moment, a mood or a detail, this can trigger happy emotions in the viewer.

In monotheistic religious traditions the natural world represents the wonders of God's creation. For those with other beliefs, individual features such as trees or rivers may each be inhabited by their own gods. Even without religious overtones, many artists portray landscapes with an intensity which makes them seem spiritually alive. An artist can depict a landscape in a way that conveys strong emotions, difficult to express in words.

Born in Nepal, Govinda Sah 'Azad' has been inspired by Turner's work throughout his career, especially by his approach to light. He has lived in England since 2006 and is now located in Margate, where he regularly observes and enjoys the same views that Turner saw. Many of his abstract canvases explore the effects of sunlight on clouds, both physical and philosophical.

He describes his recent painting 'Here/ Everywhere', and explains Turner's ongoing significance for him: "The title of the painting Here/ Everywhere refers to the idea of light, which radiates out in all directions. This recent painting builds upon the thread that runs through my work since the very early days, and still links to my early studies of how Turner used light in his paintings to define forms by adding colour highlights and shadowed depths."