Meadow

Meadow grew out of my previous installation From Light to Dark From Dark to Light inspired by the changing cosmos above a wildflower meadow where I live and work. For this new project my focus remains at the same location but has reversed direction taking inspiration from the earth. Up Down Two Worlds One Place.

Twenty years ago serendipity allowed us to acquire an acre of agricultural farm land adjoining our garden, for many decades treated with artificial chemicals. Planted with wildflower seeds it has been transformed into a meadow of flowers, grasses, fungi, native hedges and trees in a wonder of regeneration. It now supports a rich biodiversity of plant and wildlife and has been awarded private nature reserve status by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It remains an oasis surrounded by the vast chemically treated wastelands of East Anglia and represents a strong statement of chromatic variation in contrast to the ‘fertiliser green’ of industrially managed earth.

During the last few years I’ve been documenting these colours by dyeing silk and paper resulting in a growing library of colours. The dyes have been made from seasonal growth in the meadow and depending on the weather and light always give different and surprising results.

Meadow collages are constructed using habotai silk and khadi paper.

Dawn Meadow July 5