| dc.description.abstract | Nature of course shows above the surface, but much more lurks beneath. The 30 cm of topsoil veils a potent world that exists below our very feet. I imagine this place, teeming with life underneath me, where perforating roots, burrowing organisms, water filtering systems, bacterial and chemical processes all happen simultaneously, forming a complex ecosystem. It is inside this dark medium that dormancy awakens, where seeds rehydrate, expand, split open and resume their growth towards the sky. I feel a symbiosis between my working method and this life-giving environment. The soil beneath and around me is not just the principal source of inspiration for my art, but also my equal partner. As Donna Harraway‘s work emphasises the importance of recognising the symbiotic relationships between humans and their environments and to view the world as a web of interconnectedness rather than hierarchical, we cannot be seperated from nature, we are part of it and therefore we find ourselves in a constant state of transformation with the world around us. The development of this methodology began with the awareness of soil as the home I originate from, the foundation of my character and personality. This knowledge was instrumental in my endeavour to befriend a foreign country, walking its unknown landscapes, immersing myself in these, touching, feeling and physically bonding with the new soil. Further exploration of my new surroundings led me to a field where a battle was fought and where, amongst other forms of life, an ancient tree fell, its roots decomposed. Ploughing this soil gave me the method to comprehend this part of history, whilst sowing new seeds became the vehicle to amend the cruelty that had befallen it. Have I become fully aware of the worth of a tree, a vegetable, a beetle or a rain drop? Certainly not yet, but working with the soil, perceiving its energy, learning what causes a plant to grow, trying to shrink myself to the size of an insect and simply listen to their noises are practices that bring me closer to this goal. Practices which require a reduction of control over nature, a calm towards time and a tranquility towards an unforeseeable result. My final project involves the exercise of stepping aside from the areas we normally exert control and to allow soil, weather, seasons and time to express its pragmatic compromise. With great fascination, I witness the growth of my art in the soil, nourished by the sun and other natural elements. Working with organic matter creates an interesting dynamic where the line between what is art and what is nature can become blurred. It can be difficult to discern where art ends and nature begins but it is a thought I always keep in my mind. | en_US |
