- Reading Derek Jarman's garden has broadened my understanding of what a nest can be/ mean to an individual. Although my practise focusses on the physical nest, 'Prospect Cottage' is a nest in its own right. The careful selection of stones and plants to adorn his nest were selected for his personal connection to them as well as the environment. The nest he has created takes time and effort to build, but serves him as a sanctuary. I want to analyse my process of making through video and photography so to capture these moments of building and creating the nest.
-In response to Jarman's careful selection of plant life, my initial nest was made of buddleia; a plant known to grow uncontrolled around Birmingham. Seen often as weed, the buddleia is misunderstood the nest embraces its beauty. Using these materials allows me to think about our relationship with the earth. Why do we consider this a weed? Just because humans struggle to control it?
- Andy Goldsworthy's hands on approach when working with solely natural materials speaks much to my own practise. He makes work from the earth as a way to 'nourish his hands'. The reason I am building a nest as such is to gain mental nourishment from the earth. Modern disenchantment has driven a wedge between us and our ability to receive from natures wonders. By creating a nest and building by hand in the way an animal might, we break down the barrier between Anthropocene and Biocene by rejecting modern ways of making and being. Goldsworthy's specific selection of sticks and leaves emulates the behaviours of birds that make their habitats. I want to embrace this method of making. I have embraced this method of making here.
-By recording my selection of leaves and the particular way in which I arrange them, i attempt to capture the instinctive and primitive behaviours that humans now so rarely display. Activities such as foraging and building a home from nature are no longer practised regularly in western society, causing us to lose touch with our roots. This behaviour reminds me of the way magpies make their nests, by carefully selecting the most eye catching objects in their environment.
-The human silhouette is inspired by Ana Mendieta's 'Silhouetta Series'. I want to look at the human position and impact on the earth, as well as thinking about how I would like to give back to it physically. By giving my silhouette back to the earth, I am trying to symbolically give myself back/ surrender myself to nature.
-Some of the initial drawings i had made reminded me of Mendietas work and intentions.
- In future, i shall consider my camera angle more carefully so to focus solely on the actions of the hands with leaves. A clean clear shot uninterrupted by clothing and rustling would be better.
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