Britain's What's On Event Guide
Felicity Talman – Vegetal Encounters
Meet the Artist Sat 17 May 1 – 3pm
My studio is a conservatory, attached to the back of our family home and opening onto an enclosed garden, nestled within our smallholding. Like my studio, my art practice is intimately connected to family life and the rhythms of living immersed in nature. Overlooked and decaying plants frequently become my subject matter, not through active searching, but through unexpected encounters; the wilting roses outside the kitchen window or shifting shadows of houseplants on a bathroom shelf. In these moments, I encounter my subjects anew, feeling compelled to capture them through drawing.
The close connection I feel to both my subject and materials is vital to my practice. Soft pastels offer an immediacy and tactility that mirrors the physical presence of the plants I depict. The pigments and clay binder share a direct connection to the earth, and the dust produced during the drawing process is reminiscent of pollen. This material connection deepens my focus, allowing me to respond to the subtle transformations within the plants I depict.
My work frequently explores decay and transformation through depictions of vegetal matter. While decay is often associated with loss, within nature it is part of an ongoing cycle. Giovanni Aloi writes that “decay is the aesthetic dimension external to the garden” (2019), reflecting how decay is often hidden or removed to preserve aesthetics. My drawings invite contemplation of these overlooked processes; for myself during the sustained act of making, and for viewers engaging with the finished work.
My studio is a conservatory, attached to the back of our family home and opening onto an enclosed garden, nestled within our smallholding. Like my studio, my art practice is intimately connected to family life and the rhythms of living immersed in nature. Overlooked and decaying plants frequently become my subject matter, not through active searching, but through unexpected encounters; the wilting roses outside the kitchen window or shifting shadows of houseplants on a bathroom shelf. In these moments, I encounter my subjects anew, feeling compelled to capture them through drawing.
The close connection I feel to both my subject and materials is vital to my practice. Soft pastels offer an immediacy and tactility that mirrors the physical presence of the plants I depict. The pigments and clay binder share a direct connection to the earth, and the dust produced during the drawing process is reminiscent of pollen. This material connection deepens my focus, allowing me to respond to the subtle transformations within the plants I depict.
My work frequently explores decay and transformation through depictions of vegetal matter. While decay is often associated with loss, within nature it is part of an ongoing cycle. Giovanni Aloi writes that “decay is the aesthetic dimension external to the garden” (2019), reflecting how decay is often hidden or removed to preserve aesthetics. My drawings invite contemplation of these overlooked processes; for myself during the sustained act of making, and for viewers engaging with the finished work.
Fri 16 May to Wednesday 11 June
King Street Gallery
33 King Street
Carmarthen Carmarthenshire SA31 1BS
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4.30pm Free
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