The Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory in Lincoln… would I like to exhibit there? Yes of course!
The show was called, Meleager’s Garland and it was curated by Anneka French and Rebecca Wombell and took place over the last May Bank Holiday weekend. The name was inspired by the Greek poet Meleager who first assembled an ‘anthology’ of poetry, titled The Garland. The word ‘anthology’ was previously only used to describe collections of plants.
The artist call out mentioned that the curators were looking for artists … “working with ideas related to botany, artificiality and wider issues of ecology and the natural world”.
In truth I draw most of my inspiration from architecture and costume; however, I was exceedingly interested in this non gallery space. I felt confident that "Madeleine" and "Cyril" would look at home in a glasshouse full of tropical specimens and so made some Photoshop images of them in hot house settings to help Anneka visualise this too.
I have mentioned before my interest in non–gallery spaces. I see these as opportunities to grow the audience for my work. I am interested in seeing people’s reactions, especially people who are not expecting to encounter some art. The Arts Council also like non gallery spaces (as their support of the Empty Shops Schemes shows). It is another way that you can grow the numbers of people that your art has “affected” (an essential figure when making an Arts Council funding application.)
Right from the start I was interested not only in the venue but also in its connections with the 18th century.
My interest in 18th century started when I researched Sir John Soane (the “grandfather” of British collectors) when I was writing my degree dissertation.
The Sir Joseph Banks conservatory is full of specimens of plants which Banks collected on his travels. He rose to fame after travelling with Captain Cook on his first voyage to the South Pacific in 1768. Sir Joseph Banks was one of the most influential men of his time, advising King George the third and being a key figure in setting up Kew Gardens and also the development of Australia as a colony.
I am interested in collectors and I am interested in stories and so Sir Joseph Banks is definitely of interest to me!
When Anneka French came to my studio to meet "Madeleine" and "Cyril" in the flesh she asked whether they had any story linking them and I was enthusiastic to have the excuse to spend a little time fantasising about what relationship they might possibly have.
It is not always good to be too specific about my thoughts on the beings and their possible personality traits, but for this event I gave myself the green light.
By writing a set of 6 postcards between Madeleine and Cyril I was able to weave a gentle story which touches on travel, discovery, botany, history and of course alludes to the beings’ personalities and possible relationship.
I plundered my collection of postcards and selected some that my grandmother had sent me. Most were from 1970. I think I was drawn to these especially because of their kitschness.
You don’t get postcards with cardigans like this anymore!
And finally some Photoshopping to ensure that the stamps, dates and franking were all “authentic”…The two friends who helped with the handwriting were chosen as I felt that the style of their hand writing reflected the personalities that I wanted to suggest.
Complete sets of the 6 postcards are available to buy for £2. Postage is FREE!
Click here to BUY.
You can read lots more in this vein at frillipmoolog. But do buy the cards or go to Lichfield or complain about the grammar or something. Smith (the other one) is fab. (So is our one, of course).
