Spiral
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.
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.
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.