Looking at our relationship with local green spaces; how can our interactions with nature contribute to promoting sustainable engagement with nature for improved mental wellbeing and for the protection of our environment?
Context:
The lockdown in spring 2020 highlighted our deeply human need to connect with our local green spaces and surroundings, with many of us finding comfort and relief from stress being outdoors and in nature.
It also opened many people’s eyes to the realities of the effects of climate change - glued to our screens and watching the news, we witnessed the multiple wildfires in Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and California, as well as seeing temperatures in the arctic circle reach 38 degrees celsius in June.
As the climate crisis continues to worsen, it becomes increasingly important that both mindful and sustainable engagement with our environment is promoted.
For many of us, we lose our childlike wonder and view of the natural world as we grow up; looking but not always seeing our surroundings - the good and the bad.
Proposal:
The basic premise of my proposal for authorship is a ‘guided’ walk around a public park or woodland area, supporting mindfulness and wellbeing with interactive activities in nature.
Purpose:
Its purpose is to re-spark curiosity in and of nature, promoting a reconnection with our local green spaces primarily for adults, almost like a scavenger hunt. It should create an understanding of a living, breathing ecosystem. How we contribute to it, understand it and protect it as humans. I want the end product to deliberately polarise the ‘anthropocene’ culture and instead cultivate compassion and mindfulness for ourselves and our planet through actions and activities.
Audience:
My target demographic will be adults; initially focusing on those disconnected from nature or more likely to feel lonely. The two main groups I am investigating currently, are young adults and the elderly; both of which have been recently highlighted through the pandemic as likely to feel isolated for various reasons.
How am I planning to communicate it?
An interactive idea like this opens itself up to many different options. Using activities in nature such as tree rubbings, rubber stamps, drawing prompts, meditations, facts, music, augmented reality and even tasks and activities to do at home to implement afterward. This will also create a sense of community with other contributors and walkers as well as with the environment itself.
Some initial examples of things that could be tested and developed are geocaching, interactive QR codes (outside or in a printed booklet) an ‘activity’ booklet or an interactive map.
Research and practical exploration:
My research so far has included reading around climate change and conservation as well as looking at similar interactive or visual projects already in the works. To name a few, ‘The Photobook Project’ by Ellie Robinson-Carter, ‘The Lost Words: A Spell Book’ from Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris and Ali Foxon’s green sketching project called Boggy Doodles. I’ve also looked at more music and sound based projects such as the albums “(Mother Earth’s) Plantasia,” “Antasia” and Folklore Tapes. Visually, my own practice has evolved to a multi-disciplinary approach. Using traditional medias such as gouache, paper, clay, fabric and photography as well as writing and poetry in my illustration and moving image practice.
Location drawing and own writing
Location drawing//Planning
Location drawing
Tree bark - location drawing
Location drawing
Sketchbook page
Where might this project take you? What are the future opportunities and possibilities?
In terms of the authorship module, this project provides opportunities to create a more community driven and outreach oriented outcome.
When looking at relevant competitions, the Batsford Prize and its theme of ‘Our Planet’ would make it a natural fit. The project could also be adapted for an RSA brief titled “A New Leaf” which looks at utilising local woodland resources for inclusive and sustainable economic activity. I’d also be looking to enter it to platforms such as Creative Conscience and the AOI awards on completion.
Looking to expanding this to Unit X and beyond, there is the option of adapting this idea to other spaces to create more site specific versions, for example at Bridgewater Gardens. I could also look to collaborate with architecture or interior design students to integrate the project into the landscape itself; a similar idea to Siân Moxon’s proposal. Looking years ahead, the project could even grow and extend to work alongside councils, businesses, trusts and conservation groups to promote mindful and sustainable engagement from the public.
Summary:
Overall, my plan for the Authorship module revolves around promoting mindful and meaningful engagement with our local green spaces, creating a sense of community and connection that will infiltrate into creating sustainable and lasting change, which could potentially be developed for a regional or national scale. “One thing that is often remarked about climate crisis is that the subject is characterised by a strange form of cognitive dissonance. You read about the melting ice caps, the rising temperatures, the mass extinctions, and you understand intellectually that something truly terrible is happening.” (Mark O’Connell (2020) “Pictures of the world in fire won’t shock us for much longer” The Guardian) I hope that my project can help cultivate a sense of familiarity between ourselves and our green spaces, one that we cherish and strive to protect.