Artist’s Residency September 2022
This is Deniz Uster. I’m an interdisciplinary artist whose collaborative approach is rooted in anthropological, ethnographic and scientific research, interwoven with speculative fiction. A fictional shift in nature in my narratives forms the foundation for alternative social structures, collectivities, cultures, economic systems, futures and histories.
During my week-long residency at Arcadia, I laid the groundwork for my utopian fiction film ‘Drymen Phenomenon,’ through community workshops, discussions and bryological research at Arcadia’s ancient woodland - the environmental trail. Below paragraphs will explain the conceptual framework of this collaborative project, and the nature of my social-engagement with Drymen Primary and local musicians.
Covid-19, in the narrative of 'Drymen Phenomenon', has completely diminished from human bodies and has become absorbed by Thuidium tamariscinum moss found in Drymen and its vicinity. When the residents get exposed to the spores of this Covid-19 infused moss, it becomes apparent that these spores induce ‘synesthesia’ in human beings. Nature transforms us through this new ability and this is acknowledged as an evolutionary shift. For the narrative of the film, I will be working with author Gurcim Yilmaz, who will pen a fictional text; field-notes from the mouth of a botanist, informed by the words generated at the synesthesia workshops with P4/5 pupils from Drymen Primary.
During my initial visit to Arcadia, I collected bryophyte specimens. Bryophytes are non-vascular plant species such as moss, liverwort and hornworts that reproduce via spores rather than flowers or seeds. I have identified nine species with support from the British Bryological Society and eventually chose Thuidium tamariscinum moss (aka Common Tamarisk Moss) as my protagonist due to its population in this particular woodland, and its attractive and sensual properties.
Considering ‘synesthesia’ as the convergence of two senses has provided a fertile ground for community workshops, prior to my filming. On the first day of my residency, I harvested Common Tamarisk Moss from the environmental trail, and nurtured them in their tray for the duration of my residency, to return them back to their original locations at the end of the week. I conducted an olfactory-tactile synesthesia experiment at my cabin, as I possess a powerful smelling ability and I love making objects.
On Tuesday, I met with Dave Lang at his incredible studio in rural Gartmore. Dave was immediately very open to experimenting with anything, as long as he could use his music as his tool. He is very powerful at it, and the most enthusiastic! As soon as he interacted with Common Tamarisk Moss, Dave began thinking about organic rhythms , with a certain darkness added to them, when you least expect to hear them. We chatted about the vibrations and the fluctuations that its fern-like pleurocarp structure evoked. The recollection and an edited version of all music and sounds created, will be embodied as the sound or “the call” emitted from “Drymen Tamarisk”; the Covid-19 infused Thuidium Tamariscinum.
The core of my residency project; my workshops with pupils from year P4/5, at Drymen Primary were taking place on Wednesday. There were two moss workshops back to back, then my artist presentation on “Interdisciplinarity” in art practice and “collaborative working” to P5/6 students.
The moss workshops with 8 and 9 year-olds turned out exactly the opposite of what I presumed. I prepared countless prompts for answers to my tricky questions, in the probable case of prolonged silences, but they had loads to tell! I had such a positive experience with the different dynamics and mood of both groups and their unexpected creative answers.
“The moss smells like… marshmallows… fish tank… colour green.. cold water… raspberries…”
“The moss sounds like… waterfall…. loud humming… wind howling… washing machine…. “
“The moss feels like… wet feather… twigs… my mum’s hair… and most popularly; a hedgehog with soft spikes.”
On Thursday, marvellous Di Blackmore visited Arcadia with her tin whistle. She was instantly engaged with the moss, following my presentation on Synesthesia at the old stables.
Her eyes focused on the smallest surface naked eye can see, and said “It’s fractal!” Each little branch was a replica of the one that it originates from. She then took her whistle, and began imitating the fractal growth or fractal shrinkage of Tamarisk moss. She said, "You’d need an orchestra to mimic its fractal becomings."
When I came to my cabin and imported the recorded sound into my editing program, I noticed that the graphic for the levels of the sound on the track was mimicking the form of a tamarisk moss branch. I had the tapering tip, and I had the same fluctuations of the minuscule moss leaf.
I have learned so much from my workshops and it very straightforwardly influenced the script of the film, and what I want to achieve with the filming. I am very grateful to all participants and Arcadia for enabling me to reach out to those people.
On Friday, I returned all borrowed moss back to their original locations. No moss was harmed in the making of this project.