Thursday 9 November 2017

Reflections and recent works....


Reflections and recent works

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will ensure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring


The impact on wildlife due to changes in farming practise (and the expansion of the farmed area) is so rapid and severe that it is hard to get your head round the scale of what is happening. A study published this week in the journal Plos One reveals that flying insects surveyed on nature reserves in Germany have declined by 76% in 27 years. The most likely cause of this Insectageddon is that the land surrounding those reserves has become hostile to them: the volume of pesticides and the destruction of habitat have turned farmland into a wildlife desert. George Monbiot (Ref1 bottom of page)
The shocking collapse of insect population, hints at a global, ecological meltdown. George Monbiot- guardian.com (Pollution.)

There is a great sense of freedom from 'being' in the midst of nature. Using art to capture what is experienced allows for a growing consciousness to occur, the awareness of natures complexities and abundance's can develop into a deepening respect - to see self as 'part' of nature- rather than present time exploitation - to begin to work with nature in a sustainable way. 

I enjoy working with many mediums and exploring new techniques/styles which I can then incorporate into art ideas and themes - currently I have re-explored environmental issues in particular surrounding the impact of deforestation upon wildlife habitats.Over this year my focus has been to depict both the abundance of plant life - in respect to photo tropism and symbiosis, and continue investigating the diversity of fauna found in forests ...In the last few months I have worked on developing a deeper understanding concerning the effects of industrialisation - in particular pollution effects upon wildlife habitats and insects. The consequences of the decline of insects now having a knock on effect on species of birds. A recent a series of works Altered Perceptions has been underway...The series inspired by Rachel Carson 's views on the effects of chemicals on wild life - And George Monbiots recent book titled,  How did we get into this mess?
Birds and insects informed the series. The works are mixed media acrylic paint, oil pastels, gold leaf and collaged materials...embedded with phrase ..."humankind ...we are but one thread"

These works are a mixture of both abstract and bird/insect imagery, using collage materials, acrylic paint oil pastels and goldleaf. 2017


Altered Perceptions II 2017 by Yvonne forster


Altered perception III 2017 by YForster


Altered Perceptions VII 2017 by Yvonne Forster