Petrichor
Sophie Mei Birkin, Lara Cobden, Michele Fletcher, Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, Melissa Jarram, Amber Khan, Lucy Neish, Paula Turmina
15th October 2021 - 21st November 2021
Petrichor (noun) : a distinctive smell, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
Since the Stone Age, our relationship to the natural world has been explored through art, helping us to connect with our surroundings and inspire creativity. Today, however, it is increasingly complex, with the climate emergency impacting us all, some artists have decided to use their art to voice concern. Others have used their work to emphasise the connection and admiration for the world around us. Petrichor presents a selection of work by a group of contemporary artists who invite us to consider our relationship to nature in new and emboldening ways.
In a break from traditional landscapes - with vistas and horizons to ground the viewer - the works selected contain a mediative quality, encouraging the viewer to get lost in the experience of viewing - just like the experience of losing oneself in nature. From abstract paintings of flora and fauna, to somatic sculptures of fruit, every artist embraces and infuses their own personal experience of nature into their work. They call for us to appreciate and admire the beauty and mystery of natural forms, shapes and lines, engaging us in an exploratory and reflective process of looking.
In this age of the Anthropocene and extinction, our connection to nature should be celebrated. Art is one of the greatest tools to initiate discussion and create change, offering an entry point into complex issues that affect us daily. It is our hope that this exhibition will provide an opportunity to both celebrate the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and to consider our power and responsibility to protect it.
