Inspired by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

Altered Perceptions, works inspired by Rachel Carson's book  'Silent Spring'

Rachel Carson, Graphite on Paper, 2018, yf

“Life is a miracle beyond our comprehension, and we should reverence it even where we have to struggle against it. . . .” 
― Rachel Carson. ref (1) below- Silent Spring

Over the last couple of years my project work has primarily focused on exploring the effects of pesticide use and the consequential knock on effects upon bird, butterfly and bee populations. My art has been inspired by researcher Rachel Carson - (author of The Silent Spring) her informative writings from the 1960's  still resonate in these present challenging times as we experience climate change unfolding. Carson's research highlighted the devastating effects pesticide chemicals had on bird populations. She summarises succinctly with her insightful perspective the consequential effects...those often unknown realities...only experienced in hindsight....

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?” ( ref 2) Rachel Carson

"Who's Who of pesticides is therefore of concern to us all. If we are going to live so intimately with these chemicals eating and drinking them, taking them into the very marrow of our bones - we had better know something about their nature and their power.” 
― Rachel Carson, ref (3) -Silent Spring

The images I have worked on are semi-abstract mixed media paintings, using mediums such as acrylic paint, ink , oil pastel, collage materials, gold leaf and embossed collaged bird images. The works are also inscribed with the phrase "Human kind....we are but one thread.... all things connect" the ground is 30x30cm, watercolour paper.

Inspired by Rachel Carson's passionate views; her sense of interconnectedness and her advocacy for protecting the natural world - my art practise draws on the challenging impact of ongoing pesticide use. By exploring the far reaching consequences upon flora and fauna, my works consider the cause and effects of decreasing bird populations currently. And the knock on effect this brings.

Embedding a solitary bird into an abstracted space creates a sense of alienation - this juxta-positioning emphasises the impact of separation from its natural habitat and the challenging ecological predicaments this brings with it ...something we all must consider...

Key artists who have informed my creative approach and inspired me to explore new techniques are : Frans Krajcberg, Mienrad Craighead, Anselm Kiefer, Kurt Jackson, Jackson Pollock.

Alterd Perceptions( Bird) VIII Mixed Media 30x30cm
On paper, 2017 by Yvonne Marie Forster 

Altered Perceptions (Bird) VII Mixed Media
30x30cm, on paper 2017 by Yvonne Marie Forster  

These imae works on paper are framed and areo hang. sizes ranging from 25x25cm  to 60x60c
Carson’s thesis that we were subjecting ourselves to slow poisoning by the misuse of chemical pesticides that polluted the environment may seem like common currency now, but in 1962 Silent Spring contained the kernel of social revolution.” 
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring ref (3) below from silent spring 

://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/15332.Rachel_Carson (ref 1)


https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/880193-silent-spring(2)

Tropical Abstraction - The precarious effects of human activity on natural habitats

Tropical - Abstraction: A series of Digital Photo-manipulated works




"Motivating people to love and defend the natural world, an ounce of hope is worth a ton of despair." George Monbiot  - (ref below )

Tropical  Abstraction
by Yvonne Marie Forster 

My main projects are inspired by the natural world. Over the last few years I have explored the cumulative effects that human activity has had upon habitats and eco-systems.

An integral part of my working process is to create images which, in some way capture and key into the concerns, the repercussions and realities attached to current climate change issues.

The images I make are often informed by research articles and motivated by reading around subject's, such as conservation and ecology: Written by inspiring author's such as - Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson and George Monbiot. And Brazilian artist, Polish born, Frans Krajcberg; whose dedication to protect the natural world over a number of decades, opened up a new way of seeing and understanding this age of human impact upon our planet. And the need for a dedicated transition, to find trans formative, alternative ways of sustaining all life forms on our planet. For the emergence of new ways of being to transpire ...

My projects are created in response to the knock on consequences of industrial pesticide use - the cumulative detrimental effects upon insect species such as butterflies and moths, has a further knock on effect upon bird populations- particularly spring time nestlings. No insects = no sustenance for the young .
( Example: Iiving on the outskirts of a small market town...sadly now it 's very rare to see the Song Thrush - bird...most likely due to increasing amounts of pesticide use in our gardens. The irony of such use - pesticides then becoming a necessity due to the reduction of fauna and insects the natural cycle has been broken-thus creating a crisis of spiraling events that cause further depletion of earth's  biodiversity.

A presently part of a future project may include "Perma Culture " Also Looking into insightful Indigenous ways of being in nature taking care and responsibility within the ecosystems understanding the deeper meanings of connection ....which many in urbanized cultures have lost.


The main core element of permaculture being ...

1 Care of the Earth.

So that the eco-life systems a can thrive. This first elementary principle is fundamental, because without a healthy flourishing Earth, humans will be unable to thrive.

These works are a digitally manipulated photos. Titled Tropical-Abstraction. Each image portrays a single butterfly; juxta-positioned into a vibrant, yet abstracted space. The creature isolated from its natural habitat in this way; emphasises the fine balance and the pracarity of eco-systems when impacted by intense industrialised farming, pesticide use and ongoing deforestation.

Frans Krajcberg - "As a human being, I am completely completely connected to nature. My existence, my life, my culture – is the natural environment. My survival and my creativity depend on it. The knowledge about the destruction of environment pushed me into a huge rebellion, which I express through my work. For over forty years, I have been working, fighting, and condemning the acts of destruction."  frans krajcberg ref below (2)

Tropical Abstraction Digital Manipulated Photo by
Yvonne Marie Forster



References acknowledgement below
Ref Georgemonbiot from -----------------------------


ref (2) https://culture.pl/en/artist/frans-krajcberg

https://www.azquotes.com/quote/761573