Somerset Reacquainted

« Somerset Reacquainted is a project which captures the essence of a rural county in lockdown from the perspective of more than 60 artists. It seeks to reflect and communicate the experience of isolation we all shared. »

Spring 2020. My starting point was my daily delight I found to start growing vegetable just behind my house, first time ever. I’m still enjoying all colors and shapes of my allotment so far, where I spent half of my days after the national lockdown. I am taking the time to grow vegetables within an appropriate space. I do love put part of it in my house, such dried parts to pick up latter seeds and leafs. My house become a refuge for these treasures. New roof on top of our heads, new hanging bouquets on the windows, new indoor landscapes. Nature is everywhere, indoor, outdoor, in my mind, my body. I use to observe what’s remain of my vegetables, dried sculptures with fade colors. Fragility. New place of discovery and delight.

Automn 2020. I keep going to developp the project, be connected with nature, my surrounding environement, what I a experiancing during this first year of Covid-19. I’m still facinated with the fragiles and damages bean leafs I care from summer and it’s my main source off inspiration. I m manipulating these shapped with themes of house, refuge and body.

Winter 2020-21, third lockdown in England…. My house is my main journey, I miss nature, the weather is awefull and I do home learning for my kids mornings and afternoon. I have a deeper relation with my close family, I rediscover my house.

Nina Gronw Lewis proposed to the artists who are taking part in Somerset Reacquainted « to produce one original page each to be bound by me with an open spine Coptic binding, with hardcovers and possibly a box to protect it and give longevity. » This book will be exhibited in ACE arts in Somerton and other venues as part of the Somerset Reacquainted Tour exhibition and events, which takes place between April 2021 – April 2022. More about that very soon…