Found, discarded, reclaimed materials: fabric (including old clothes), plant debris, plastic, t-bags, wool, twine, wire, paper, oil, thread, aluminium bottle tops, feathers, steel, wood, lead, copper, water, rocks, earth, eco ink
500 (w) x 600 (l) x 350 (h) cms max (dimensions vary according to site)
2023
Inspired by walks in woodlands, the work celebrates biodiversity, hopeful of nature being more cared for, and thriving. Woods and forests provide vital ecosystems - crucial to our survival. My labour-intensive process of hand-stitching, use of old clothes and collected (reused) fabric from across the globe (eg: Tibetan prayer flags, Kenyan khangas, sari offcuts..) relates to slow art, visible mending, making do, care and repair. The work references pieced patchwork of Korean Bojagi, Gee’s Bend quilts and African textiles art, the many unnamed hands who labour at textiles production, the history of trade routes, and wasteful fashion industry.
Flags represent a shared ideal. The title was inspired by Ursula Le Guin’s book title ‘The Word for World is Forest’. Treated as large-scale drawings, or paintings, the vertical hoists contrast soft hangings - sculptural lines working with layered fields of colour. These semi-translucent materials are patched together, and hang at different heights. The viewer can see through one to another.
This album documents Flags of the Forest installed at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (Penzance, Cornwall, UK) in the summer of 2023 as part of Wander_Land, an exhibition with Royal Society of Sculptors members.
Flags of the Forest is activated by weather. The eco-flags and water feature transformed the hillsite overlooking St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall.
The exhibition was assisted by curator Martin Holman.
© Copyright Fiona Campbell. All rights reserved, 2023
Photo by Russell Sach
Photo by Russell Sach
Photo by Barbara Beyer
Photo by Russell Sach
Photo by Barbara Beyer
Photo by Barbara Beyer
Photo by Jane Jobling
Photo by David Bird
Photo by Barbara Beyer
Photo by Mick Waite
Photo by Mick Waite
Photo by Mick Waite
Photo by Mick Waite
Photo by Mick Waite
Photo by Mick Waite
Video of Flags of the Forest sited at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (Penzance, Cornwall, UK) in the summer of 2023, as part of Wander_Land, an exhibition with Royal Society of Sculptors members.