The James Hutton InstituteA new collaboration between art and science has culminated in an exhibition exploring and explaining the fascinating world of peat bogs.
‘Beauty and the Bog’ is a new exhibition taking place at the Dancing Light Gallery, West Linton which aims to raise awareness of peat bogs, both as an important natural resource for carbon sequestration and as a fascinating ecosystem in which to observe organism interactions and functions.
Aberdeen based Macaulay Land Use Research Institute is supporting the exhibition through a Knowledge Exchange Grant to South Lanarkshire based artist Carol Taylor who has also undertaken research on the links between plants and art with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
Dr Andy Taylor and Dr Rebekka Artz from the Institute whose work inspired some of the painting in the collection said, “Awareness of peat bogs is most often governed by images of water logged, simple landscapes with little amenity or conservation value, whereas the reality of the system is far from these images. It could be argued that a global level, peat bogs are Scotland’s most iconic soils.
‘Sphagnum blanket’
Working in collaboration with artists who utilise the natural world for images and inspirations, the exhibition will utilise different visual media to convey how bogs are formed and maintained and the organisms that are crucial to their functioning.”
Carol Taylor said, “I feel it is vital to explore ways in which artists, scientists and community can work together. Art can be used as a means to raise awareness about sustainability and other environmental issues and I’m delighted to be showcasing my work and unveiling the beauty hidden in bogs.”
The ‘Beauty and the Bog’ exhibition which includes paintings and limited edition prints inspired by native Scottish plants takes place at the Dancing Light Gallery West Linton, from 30th January to 25th February 2010.
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Information for Editors:
Beauty and the Bog
Fifty-four pieces of art will be exhibited including 11 canvases paintings during the period of the Knowledge Exchange Grant from the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. The remainder of the show involves paintings and limited edition prints inspired by Scottish native plants plus scanning electron micrographs of moss and lichens.
Carol Taylor
Artist Carol Taylor lives and works in rural South Lanarkshire. She is currently involved in collaborations with scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh who “explore and explain the world of plants” to investigate ways in which artists, scientists and community can work together to combat pollution and raise awareness about sustainability and other environmental issues.
Dancing Light Gallery
The Dancing Light is a brand new purpose built gallery in the Scottish Borders, exhibiting high quality work from established and emerging artists. The Gallery is located on the A701 between Leadburn and Romanno Bridge, just 12 miles from the Edinburgh City Bypass and 15 miles from Peebles. The Gallery is open Monday – Friday 11am to 6pm, Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sunday 12noon to 5pm.
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute was founded in 1930 and is an international centre for research and consultancy on the environmental and social consequences of rural land uses. With an annual income from research and consultancy of over £14m, the Institute is the largest interdisciplinary research organisation of its kind in Europe, and aims to provide evidence to help shape future environmental and rural-development policy on a national and international basis.