Who knew it got sunny in Newcastle? I’ve been administering some much needed water aid to my work after leaving it over the weekend, some bits are looking a bit parched… This is something I really like in creating these sort of works. While the fabrication of the sculptures only takes a few days in the workshops and a trip or two down to buy compost, it is the constant maintenance that becomes my role in the final construction of the artwork.
I’ve recently started thinking about that role, how much of a gardener am I? Is this a problem if I am in my eyes, creating art? I started to look into the history of community gardening as well as the more grand scale landscaping I have been looking into. While researching I’ve come across a philosopher called Isis Brook who explores an interesting term entitled ‘nearby nature’. The term looks at the positive benefits that nature brings to human well being. Interestingly enough this is activated by the subtle introduction of small manifestations of nature, plants and views in a person’s immediate environment.
This nearby nature concept flows well with my work, by providing manifestations of the natural environment in institutions like urban art galleries I am looking at supplying both a relief from the urban grey and a comment on the social benefit green space can bring.
