30 Oaks - 30 Silver

A transmedial project which began in 2022. Planting 30 oak saplings and burying 30 silver coins across 7 locations in the UK, where I lived over a 30-year period from 1982 to 2012.

I re-visited each of seven locations and at each site, planted an oak sapling and buried a silver ten-pence piece for each year that I lived there, acts of contrition towards myself for remaining in a broken and damaging relationship, contrition to the land for the years of carbon damage.

I spent time in mindful/reflective walking, collecting found objects, taking photos and making sketches. Through this process, I explored memories and emotional affect triggered by the location.

The site visits were completed in April 2024, and studio work continues:

I collate the photos and make additional sketches. I explore mythical archetypes [Karl Jung] as a genius loci to embody the memories and impressions of each site, and I create spontaneous poetry drawing multiple themes together.

I create a large work on paper [150cmx150cm], in acrylic and mixed media, with reference to the location, memory, feeling, text and the genius loci.

I bring together the found objects from each site into a small assemblage which becomes a totem - recalling memories, triggering affect, evoking thoughts embedded into my recollections of the site. 

I continue to make additional works relating to the themes and experiences as ways to capture and express the experience.