Play 1

Noticing Nature

Anna Rooney

My work explores humanity’s relationship to nature and the ways in which textiles

can promote reflection and appreciation for our environment. Urban living makes it

increasingly difficult to access green spaces and our busy, fast-paced lives leave

little time to slow down and support our wellbeing. My project aims to invite the

viewer through engagement with the senses, to reinvigorate a sense of childlike

wonder and joy for the ordinary details present in the natural world.

I have taken conkers of the horse chestnut tree found locally as my primary source

of inspiration due to their common presence in urban areas and almost universal link to childhood. Photography, sketchbook work and sampling have led me to a 

mix-media approach that involves embedding wood and ceramics into my knitted

work and combining hand and machine processes. I have channelled my work into

two seasonal moods - one influenced by the activity and abundance of summer and autumn and the other slower, more serene winter and its gradual transition into 

spring.

My final collection includes an immersive installation space, exploring a variety of

scales and visual elements in order to showcase different moods and techniques. My use of colour, materials and form make the two subcollections distinct but

harmonious and complementary. For my dark collection I highlight the beauty

present in quiet deterioration using flowing, branching patterns while my bright

collection uses bold shapes and playful motifs. My smaller pieces invite direct

interaction while the larger works inspire contemplation, altogether supporting

reflection on the interplay between art, the viewer and their environment.