“All beings are connected in a vast, entangling mesh without a hierarchical structure or a central essence, and a beings identity arises from its relations to other beings more than from its own intrinsic properties.”
–TimothyMorton–TheEcologicalThought
Yorkshire-basedvisualartistJoanneGelstho t qualitiesofnaturalmaterials.Herexplorationo e interplaybetweenhumaninteractionandma at highlighttheirmutualinfluence.
Sheseeksengagementwithnaturalmatterandlookinghowitcanevolve,reinvent,and exposetheessenceofplaces.Joannes'workoriginatesfromspendingtimeinoutdoor spaces.Hereshedocuments,listensandgathers,oftencreatingonlocation.Sheis fascinatedbytheintrinsicconnectionsofthepastandpresentthataredeeplyrootedin eachmaterialentity.Sourcingmaterialresponsiblysheseekstodrawoutinspirationfrom thelandscaperemnants,liminalspaceswhilstfocusingonthematerialinterplay.
Ineveryaspectofherpracticethereisconsiderationforthefusionofmatterandits reinvention.Sheoftenformsdialoguesthatreferencehumanemotionalandphysical statesthataligntotheprocessoftransformationandrebuilding,suchasgrief,loss, ephemeralityaswellasrenewalandgrowth.Thisistofurthersupportabeliefofthedeep connectionswehavewitheverythingthatsurroundsusbothhumanandnonhuman.
'Understandingtheagencyofthingscanleadtoamore profoundappreciationofourenvironmentandadeeper senseofinterconnectedness' Janebennet,Vibrantmatter
Whatisalandentity?
Alandentity couldbeapieceofcollectedmatterorrunningriverwater,itembodiesthe conceptthatthelandpossessesitsownagencyandvitality,influencingandbeinginfluencedbytheinteractionsand activitieswithinit.ThisprojectaimstoexplorethevibrancyofnaturalmaterialsfocusingontheiragencybyshiftingawayfromanAnthropocentricviewpoint.Thisistobeachievedbyimmersing innature,actively listening,engagingwithmaterialentitiesand generatingasymbioticdialogueinconnectiontoourenvironment.
How?
Beginningasacollectivewalkwithlocalartistsanddevelopingintomaterialexperiments.Theobjectivesareto
UtilisematerialsconsciouslysourcedfromthePeakDistrict,promptingreflectiononthepotentialoflocalmaterials.
Emphasisesustainability,collaborationwithnatureandseasonalresourcesto enhanceourconnectiontotheenvironment.
Encourageresponsiblepractices, adoptingacaringperspectivewhencreating.
Exploresensoryengagement(activelistening/looking)to boostcreativity,mindfulnessandoffernewperspectives.
Location-Studio/PeakDistrict,UK
Date-June/July/August2024
JaneBennett'sconceptof"vibrantmatter"highlightsthevitalityandagencyinherentinmaterials.Byincorporatingnaturalelementsintocreating,adialogueemergesbetweenhumanintentionandmaterialqualities,blurring thelinesbetweenartistandartwork.Thisinteractioninvitesviewerstoreconsiderhierarchicaldivisionsbetweenhumansandnature,fosteringamoreinclusiveandrelationalapproachtoartpractise.Theblurringofboundaries between subject and object in the interaction between materials and nature in art, as explored through Bennett's vibrant matter, opens up new possibilities for understanding and engaging with the world around us. It encouragesustorecognizetheagencyandvitalityofmaterials,andtoembraceamoreinterconnectedandecologicallyconsciousperspective.
KarenBarad'stheoriesofagentialrealismprovidedeeperinsightsintotheconnectionsamongmaterials,nature,andart.Barad'sperspectiveunderscorestheinterdependenceofhumanandnon-humanelements,presenting realityasanongoingentangledprocess.Baradarguesthatthedistinctionsbetweenhumansandthematerialworldarenotfixedbutratherfluid,shapedthroughcontinuousnegotiationswithoursurroundings.Throughher conceptof"intra-action,"Barademphasizeshowentitiesmutuallyshapeeachotherthroughtheirintertwinement.Thisfacetofenquiryformsthebasisforthelandentityprojectespeciallyasitallowsartworkstoemergeasa fusionofhumanandnon-humanforces,wheretheartist'sintentions,materialproperties,andenvironmentalinfluencesconvergetocreatecollaboratedoutcome.
Barad'stheoriespromptreflectionontheethicaldimensionsofourinteractionswithmaterialsandnatureinart.Byacknowledgingtheinterconnectednessbetweenhumanandnon-humanentities,weareurgedtorethink conventionalideasofownership,control,andexploitationinartisticpractices.Embracingamindfulandresponsibleapproachtoart-makinghashelpedthisprojecttocareformaterialsandtheirorigins.
In summary Barad and Bennets theories of vibrant matter and agential realism offer a framework for exploring the intricate relationships between materials, nature, and art. The fluid boundaries between humans and the materialworld,theinteractiveessenceofourengagements,andtheethicalconsiderationsallmakeuptheLandEntityproject.
Thisprojectiscreatedtobeongoing,justlikethematerialsitaimstoconstantlybeinflux.
MaterialWalk:LangsettReservioir15thJune JoanneGelsthorpe2024
Objective: To actively engage with the natural environment and uncover the vibrancy of materials through focused listening and observation.
1. Set Intentions:
- Take a moment to reflect on your purpose for the walk. Aim to be open to new experiences and insights about the vibrancy in nature.
2. Ground Yourself:
- Stand or sit quietly for a few minutes. Focus on your breath and the sensations in your body to cultivate awareness.
3. Active Observation:
- Begin your walk, observing your surroundings. Pay attention to textures, colours, and forms of various materials (e.g., leaves, stones, water).
4. Sound Listening:
- Close your eyes periodically and focus on the sounds around you. Listen for:
- Natural sounds (rustling leaves, flowing water, bird calls)
- The interaction of materials (wind through branches, footsteps on different surfaces)
5. Mindful Engagement:
- Pause at different spots to engage with specific materials. Touch them, listen closely, and observe their characteristics. Reflect on:
- How do they connect to the environment?
- Take notes or sketch your observations, focusing on the vibrancy you perceive in each material. Consider how they interact with light, sound, and movement.
6. Reflection:
- At the end of your walk, find a quiet spot to reflect on your experience. Consider questions like:
- What vibrancy did you discover?
- How did your perceptions of the materials change?
7. Share and Discuss:
- share your findings and insights. Discuss how different perspectives can enhance the understanding of vibrancy in nature.
- Conclude the session by expressing gratitude for the experience and the materials encountered. Consider how this practice can be integrated into future explorations of nature.
Perception: Cultivating awareness of the environment and the subtle details that reveal vibrancy.
Unity: Recognizing the interconnectedness of all elements within the ecosystem.
Listen: Engaging in active listening to the sounds and rhythms of nature.
Sensation: Experiencing the textures, colours, and movements that contribute to the pulse of life.
Exploration: Actively seeking out and discovering the dynamic energy present in natural settings.
This acronym encapsulates the essential aspects of engaging with nature while searching for its vibrancy.
By seeking the transformative potential of natural materials we are guided to understand their properties , promoting a more symbiotic and appreciative approach to creation.
Collected river water serves as an active participant in the bioplastic creative process. Its vibrancy, characterized by movement and life force , acts as a catalyst for change, influencing the final outcome of the transformed material. Each bit of material that is made into bioplastic becomes an entity imbued with its own narrative. They hold the story of the rivers journey, the eco system it supports and its environmental considerations, it becomes more than an ingredient: it transforms into a vital participant in an ecological and artistic conversation.
Aseriesofmaterialtests
Confluence zones - I focused on an area where a hillside stream rich in slate converges with a wider body of water rich in iron. This location is ideal for sediment accumulation showcasing the vibrant interplay between the two environments. The constant flux between these areas contributes to the richness and abundance of the woodland.
From this dynamic, we can learn the importance of interconnectedness and adaptability in our own lives. These areas thrive through collaboration by capturing these entities we can hold something that represents a moment of coexistence and interdependence but the biodegradability means that there is no permanence here ….. it is always in a state of transience.
First attempt for slow building of bioplastic forms. This included a lot of drying time and layering of plastic . They are incredibly fragile and easily broken down . These are my test pieces in preparation for pieces to be put into an outdoor location.
Recognizingthelinkbetweenhumanandnonhumancomponentspromptsareevaluationof traditionalconceptsofownership,control,and exploitationwithinartisticendeavors.Thetransient natureofnaturalmaterialscansurpasshuman manipulationinthelongterm
Returntotheearth.Bioplasticinfusedwithorganic mattersuchasgrass.1monthbreakdown. JoanneGelsthorpe2024.
As part of the project I held an intimate gathering of local artists that came on a collecting walk with me to view and experience the material outcomes at my studio.
I kept this small to enable personal connection from the walk to the studio. It also encouraged participation in discussion and more chance to observe details of the work. The gathering enabled discussions about potential future projects and allowed feedback and thoughts for developing my project further.
This evening also including a showing of film work that has been created alongside this project.
Engagmentwiththebomaterals
JoanneGelsthorpe2024
Riverpigmentpaintingon cotton.70cmx50cm JoanneGelsthorpe2024.
Riverpigmentpaintingoncotton,suspendedrockandriverbed preservedbioplastic(temporarypaintingpractice).50cmx50cm JoanneGelsthorpe2024
Riverpigmentpaintingoncottonwithsuspendedrock JoanneGelsthorpe2024.
These bioplastic rocks transcend their physical form, embodying the spirit of the river from which they originate. As entities of the land, they represent a harmonious fusion of nature and human creativity, capturing the essence of the flowing water that nourishes the landscape.
Each rock carries within it the stories of the river the whispers of currents, the dance of light on water, and the lifeblood of the ecosystem They serve as guardians of the river’s spirit, reflecting the vitality and energy that pulse through the aquatic realm. By transformingriverwaterintosolidform,theserocksbecomeatangible manifestation of the river's presence, acting as vessels of its energy andwisdom
Inthisway,thebioplasticrocksemergeasintermediariesbetweenthe land and the water, inviting us to honour and respect the interconnectedness of all living things They remind us that the river is notjustaphysicalentitybutaspiritthatflowsthroughtheveryfabricof theenvironment,impartinglifeandvibrancytoeverythingittouches. They serve as a call to recognize the beauty and significance of our surroundings, urging us to listen to the whispers of the land and embracethewisdomoftheriver.
Sentinel(location2)Langsett,layeredbioplastic 50cmHX48CMW JoanneGelsthorpe2024.
Smallrockforms,Bioplasticforms.LangsettApprox.30cmx30cm JoanneGelsthorpe2024.
