After the Storm

This is a large project instigated by the Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh and the Forestry commission based around the theme of ‘After the Storm’. The project involves a series of exhibitions in response to the Cyclone Andrea which caused widespread destruction in the gardens in 2012. Staff and students of Edinburgh College of Art have been invited to respond to notions of rejuvenation and renewal of which my work forms a part.

For this project I am currently working with the Kurdish Community Centre in Edinburgh exploring the diverse experiences of this community. Through regularly attending the Community Centre and festive events I have been given insights into various aspects of Kurdish culture. During these visits I have invited participants to pose for me and whilst I produce a clay portrait of them they are encourage to talk about aspects of their life and their journey to Edinburgh. In this way I have produced a body of more than a dozen portrait heads and from these I have selected a number to reproduce in wood. These heads have been carved from timber claimed from the trees felled during the storm in 2012. The resulting wooden heads will be installed in the glass houses of the RGBE in May of 2017.

As I model I have also encouraged the Kurdish children to be creative with the clay and I now have a group of enthusiastic participants. The creations from these informal workshops will be fired and hopefully exhibited as part of a day of activities celebrating Kurdish culture which is to be held at the RGBE next year (subject to funding).