Newsletter #4 / Re-routing
Fungi, pathways, emergence, open studios round-up
Earlier this month, I was invited by UCL, Institute of Advanced Studies + Association for Medical Humanities to participate in the parallel programme at their conference - Fevers, Frets and Futures.
It was exciting to be able to share my project “Re-routing” with a nicely diverse panel of doctors, academics, artists and musicians and be a part of the dialogue between SHAPE (arts, humanities and social sciences) and STEM (biomedical, science, engineering and technology) disciplines.
The conference married the sciences and the arts which brought about sharing of many diverse global and local perspectives on sustainability, medicine, arts and creating new futures in a post-pandemic world.
Listening to conversations on land based trauma, future of the NHS, public health policies and plans, sustainability and the arts in the UK, indigenous artists from Canada and a marvelous tabla recital were just some of the highlights (for me) from this very wide span of events at the conference.
My own recent work on themes of grounding, emergence and thriving fit snugly into the programme and I was glad to observe that project re-routing stirred some interesting interactions.
Re-routing references visuals from fungi, roots and trees to arrive at visual themes of grounding to the earth, emergence from darkness and thriving in our new micro and macro, inner and outer worlds.
We must remember these flashes of emergent beauty, not as encounters that deny affliction, but as collective imaginary of fugue futures where profound suffering is entwined with improbably beauty - Anne McClintock
Everything is connected
Looking at and incorporating drawings of fungi forms in the past year or so has helped shift my perspective towards recovery and re-routing.
Fungi is understood to lie between the plant and animal intelligence and it was this fluidity that brought me to research further on the growth and communication mechanisms in the fungi world, and how it adapts, bridges, rewires and sustains itself in ever-changing landscapes and conditions.
Network drawings is a set of 4 prints (edition variable), made from engraving on copper. They’re a small study on changing fungi forms and each print is metamorphosed from the original form study.
As Arundhati Roy put it way back in 2020 - “Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine the world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next” - 3.5 years on and many many personal and global changes later I couldn’t agree more.
In other news, the open studios last month went fabulously. Huge thanks to all those who actually showed up, engaged with and supported my work (virtually and physically) and made the party at my first set of events in my new studio here in London. I’m very touched!
It’s hard work being an artist + solo operator, let alone also organising a face of the practice! But so gratifying when it does come together, on its own terms, every once in a while.
Finally, a quick word on some recent art I’ve seen.
Cinga Samson at White Cube - mesmerising, hyper realistic imagery - painted with precision, depth and soul. Pure, pigmented, wondrous art I’ve seen in a long time. Do not miss this!
Saw some clever and humorous sculptures at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park recently by Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm.
Thanks as always for reading my newsletter!
A big welcome to all the new subscribers - this monthly (ish) newsletter is a drip-feed of my work, references and perspectives.
Feel free to browse my newsletter archive - this one is only my fourth and I already feel so much more connected to all of you!
Just love seeing the direction your work continues to move in, beautiful!
This was a great read. Thanks for sharing. Particularly liked Fungi and scenes from your studio. Keep it up!