A line, drawn on a map from the ESI building to Trelowarren Estate, measures approximately 7.618miles. This line is the beginning, drawn on a map, walked into being and used as a methodological device for dissecting and gathering the activities of a interdisciplinary team of researchers from University of Exeter’s Environment & Sustainability Institute on the Trelowarren Estate, a 1000acre, 700year old estate who are transitioning to a rewilding model on their land.
The Artist’s Placement Group, a 1970’s arts collective, once worked under the moniker that “the context is half the work”, embedding artists in industrial sectors so that their perspective could be brought to bare on processes traditionally seen as distinct from creativity. I see the ESI fellowship as a welcome return to this form of working, with the benefit of decades of hindsight and experience to draw on.
The project with Trelowarren is ongoing and currently seeking funding from both ACE and the AHRC with University of Exeter, Eden Project and Kestle Barton as partners.
A Transect for Trelowarren was featured in Unbounded, an exhibition of contemporary art exploring some of the many layers of Cornwall’s social and environmental landscapes. It showcased work by 15 artists, including Gemma Anderson, Laura Hopes, Abigail Reynolds, Nina Royle, Ben Sanderson and Katie Schwab each working in or deeply connected to Cornwall.
A series of photographs were exhibited as part of University of Exeter’s innovative lockdown exhibition Catalyst online in 2021. These editioned works on paper are available for sale in an edition of 10 hand signed copies via the above link.
