William Arnold: Suburban Herbarium

About

'Bounded not by an ecologist’s quadrat but by the length of a regular lunch-break walk - an escape from a daily teaching job based on the outskirts of a small but rapidly expanding city - this work is an ‘edgelands’ homage to Victorian botany.'  - William Arnold

We are pleased to be opening the 2018 season at Kestle Barton with this botanical homage, a natural complement to our own wild flower meadows and orchards. 'Suburban Herbarium' is a collection of William Arnold’s photographs made in odd moments as he escaped from the routine of a teaching job. An earlier study, 'Outside City Walls', that informed and inspired the later work, will also be shown. 

Living and working in West Cornwall, UK, William is interested in the layers of history, human and natural that comprise the making of the landscape and the role played by the photographic surface both literally and metaphorically in recording, interrogating and representing these histories. 

William describes his relationship to this work as:

'A reflection on contemporary notions of wilderness, building the Suburban Herbarium represents both an attempt to regain personal agency against the often alienating backdrop of the 9-5 and a celebration of the natural history of these outskirt 'landscapes of disappointment' ... the building sites, road verge, business parks, wasteland and identikit housing, where were it not for the necessity of stable employment nearby one would never choose to spend time.' 

There will be a public opening of the exhibition 24 March from 2pm – 5pm with an Artist Talk at 3pm. All are welcome to attend.

Kestle Barton is open 10:30am -5pm Tuesday – Sunday. Closed Mondays but open Bank Holidays. Admission is free and light refreshments are available.