I am overjoyed to be able to share that earlier this year I was selected for the North York Moors Dark Sky Residency with a solo exhibition at Inspired by… gallery, located at The Moors National Park Centre at Danby. The exhibition space is absolutely beautiful. My solo exhibition will take place in 2022.
Just before I came to Italy I began my residency on the Moors. I have never encountered this type of landscape before - here is a 5x4 photograph of one of the many incredible vistas.
I am going to be expanding on my research into the philosophical and ecological importance of natural darkness in a new project titled 'Dark Reflections'. To begin my research for the residency, I met with Mike Hawtin who helped the North York Moors to become an International Dark Sky Reserve, and Richard Darn, their dark skies consultant, supporter and professional astronomer.
‘I will further my research into how natural darkness impacts our perception of the fragility of nature and how it can inspire positive environmental change. I will create a body of work using photography, installation, sound and a participatory element.
My practice has been fundamentally inspired by the change in my relationship with the night sky. I lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for 16 years, before moving to London. In NZ, I spent a lot of time in mountainous areas close to a dark sky reserve which opened a window into the magnificence and fragility of our environment, in contrast to the endless cosmic landscape.
I believe that as light pollution increases across the world, we will spin further into an exponential spiral of decline due to not having this visual contrast. It is fantastic news that the North York Moors has received a Dark Sky Park accolade. It is a very important moment to explore why protecting natural darkness is imperative to the psychology of the climate crisis.
My research will have two strands. The first aspect will be the philosophical impact of natural darkness, and the rise of light pollution. The second will be in depth research into the biological impacts of light pollution on the flora and fauna of the North York Moors.’