A North Wales artist is working closely with 麻豆传媒高清版鈥檚 Biocomposites Centre to create new composites derived from natural materials which can be used to create artworks, whilst highlighting the need to care for our natural environment.
Manon Awst, who was brought up on Anglesey and exhibits her work internationally, has been undertaking site-specific research at the Anglesey Anglesey Fens and Ll欧n Fens Special Areas of Conservation in collaboration with experts from Natural Resources Wales鈥 , a five year plan of peatland restoration in Wales.
These areas are home to the most significant and extensive concentration of rich fen habitat in Wales and western Britain, and play an important role in capturing and storing carbon, regulating greenhouse gases, maintaing biodiversity and regulating water.
Manon鈥檚 latest body of work, supported through Arts Council Wales as part of and entitled 鈥楽ticky Sculptures鈥, explores the unique materiality of peatlands, and will be shared as part of her exhibition 鈥Wetland Dreams鈥 (Breuddwyd Gorsiog) which opens on Saturday, 15th July at , Llanfrothen.
As part of the research process, Manon, who is currently studying for a PhD at 麻豆传媒高清版 and works as a Public Spaces Creative Coordinator at the University鈥檚 Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, has been working with materials specialist Dr Simon Curling from the Biocomposites Centre to bring together various materials to develop new sculptural composites for her current body of work and beyond.
Manon said, 鈥淭he material that defines the fens is peat, and I鈥檝e been exploring it from various perspectives and at different times of the year through site visits with local ecologists, peat specialists, fellow creatives and school pupils.
鈥淧eat has its own timescale 鈥 it forms very slowly: each year, 1mm of new peat forms in active and healthy peatland. It reminds me that materials take their own time, and that I have a responsibility as an artist when I choose which materials to work with.
Although Manon鈥檚 project is exploring the unique and vibrant peatlands, using peat was out of the question in any way as it must stay in the ground to perform its valuable functions in terms of carbon store, biodiversity and water regulation. Nevertheless, its texture when viewed under a microscope provided a point of departure for the artist:
鈥淒r Curling has supported me whilst I鈥檝e explored various methods of bringing together waste grasses from Cors Erddreiniog, powdered mussel shells, lime, wool and biochar, which is produced from the grass. It鈥檚 an ongoing process of trial and error, and many material samples have gathered in my studio! One of my favourites is made from pulped grass, mussel shells and a wool base, bound together with alginate, a derivative of seaweed."
鈥淒r Julie Webb from Bangor鈥檚 School of Ocean Sciences has also been kind enough to share her knowledge of seaweed species like Saccharina Latissima which, given the right conditions, have the potential to be harvested and provide the binding results I鈥檓 looking for, so I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing how that progresses.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a fascinating process so far, and I look forward to sharing the results with the public over the coming months.鈥
Dr Simon Curling said, 鈥淎s researchers, we are used to looking at natural materials from the scientific or product development point of view so working with Manon, with her artistic outlook, is a novel and exciting approach for us and is helping us look at materials in new ways.鈥
Peter Jones, NRW鈥檚 Lead Specialist on peatland, said: 鈥淎lthough some people may find peatlands less immediately attention-grabbing than other natural landscapes in Wales such as mountains, woodlands or coastlines, in fact, our bogs and fens support a wonderful range of plants and animals, and this importance continues out of view underground.
鈥淧eatland is the earth鈥檚 most concentrated soil carbon store and restoring them to healthy condition is a key Welsh Government and NRW action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
鈥淲e are therefore delighted to work with an artist like Manon Awst who, through her creativity and research, aims to highlight some of the hidden qualities of peatlands for public view.鈥
鈥榃etland Dreams鈥 (Breuddwyd Gorsiog) opens on Saturday, 15th July at , Llanfrothen and there will be an artist talk with Dr Sarah Pogoda from 麻豆传媒高清版 at the gallery on Saturday, 19th August.
Manon will also be presenting an element of the work with NRW on Monday 7th August at the Ll欧n ac Eifionydd National Eisteddfod, and a new sculpture will be unveiled at the Anglesey Fens later this year. You can learn more about Manon Awst here
