Sowing the seeds of a Chelsea garden
Two Yorkshire artists who are part of the creative collective, SEEDS (She Endeavours, Encourages, Does and Shares) have been invited to create an installation at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show on the back of their installation at the 2018 London Design Festival.
LAND is a collaboration between Wakefield textile designer Laura Slater and founder of botanical studio The Plant Room, Zosia Berkieta-Lewis, who lives in Saltaire. Their indoor garden and textile installation that engaged visitors with themes of nature, creativity and wellbeing impressed RHS Deputy Show Manager Clare Greene and Amy Hopkins so much that they were offered a prime site for the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
SEEDS founder, Zosia is delighted that LAND has been invited to create a multi-sensory installation space based on the concept that nature inspires creativity and increases wellbeing at the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show: "Laura and I are delighted to be able to develop the initial LAND project further and hope to delight visitors with an extra sensory dimension to the original concept.
"We will invite visitors to enter the space and take some time out from the hustle and bustleof the show and to take advantage of the 360° views afforded by our elevated position in the heart of the artisan gardens section.
"The space is designed to allow visitors to feel at ease with pausing and we will provide seating for those who wish to sit in the garden and materials for people who would like to draw. Inspired by Piet Oudolf's naturalistic style, the plants will reflect the print, colour and pattern of Laura's textile collection and will include indigenous soft grasses and colour pops to subtly bring the two practices of textile and botanical design together."
Of the inspiration behind Laura's textile collection, also entitled LAND, she said: "In the summer of 2017, I explored the landscape surrounding Cove Park, an artists' residency centre located on Scotland's west coast.
"During my time there, the natural landscape gave me the time and space to create a body of work, exploring the potential of pattern and its ability to connect people to the environment and that was the foundation for the collection.
"For LAND at Chelsea, we will add an exciting new sensory experience. Fellow SEEDS member, Yorkshire sound artist Alison Gilmour has created specially curated sounds that will help people to focus when drawing and relaxing, whilst another SEEDS member, Lesley Bramwell from Essence + Alchemy has curated a bespoke blend of natural essential oils that reflect the botanicals found in the Scottish landscape that inspired my textile designs."
Zosia concludes: "Sound and scent play a vital role in how people encounter and enjoy space. All of these elements combined are designed to engage visitors in the therapeutic and restorative elements of natural landscapes. We are looking forward to sharing our space with Chelsea visitors seeking time to pause and reflect."
Over the years Zosia and Laura have worked independently in their chosen fields, but came together to develop LAND in March 2018. The pair met when Laura exhibited at a Saltaire Arts Trail event at Zosia and husband Michael's home and their friendship developed through the SEEDS collective that Zosia set up for women in creative businesses to meet up, exchange ideas and experiences and to share food together.
Other SEEDS members who have contributed to the LAND project include ITV's Love your Garden presenter Katie Rushworth, who had provided consultative support and plant inspiration; Nicola Moxon, who rendered the designs for the installation and videographer Zoe East from Opal Video who recorded the video for the kickstarter campaign that funded the initial LAND installation at the London Design Festival.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London from 21 - 25 May.
Ends
Photograph caption:
1. L - R Laura Slater and Zosia Berkieta-Lewis Photo: From a still by Zoe East Laura Slater and Zosia Berkieta-Lewis
2. The LAND installation at the London Design Festival 2018 Photo: Kristy Noble The LAND installation at London Design Fest
3. Video link www.opal.video/land - Kickstarter campaign for London Design Festival 2018 Video: Zoe East
For more information or to arrange an interview with Zosia or Laura, please contact
Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on;
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Notes to editors
- Three years ago Zosia Berkieta-Lewis, founder of botanical studio The Plant Room, became increasingly interested in wellbeing and making spaces that incorporated plants and nature. Fascinated with how people interact with and use space and by taking inspiration from biophilia and biophilic design The Plant Room make spaces with people and plants in mind.
The Plant Room's projects include Mary Berry's Country House at Christmas, Harvey Nichols and chef Dan Doherty, & Other Stories, Harewood Food & Drink Project, Leeds Central Library & The British Library, The Gallery at Munro House, Leeds Indie Food Festival and Northern Monk Brewery.
For more information about The Plant Room, please visit www.theplantroom.co
- Laura Slater's clients include Tate, Heals, The Hepworth Wakefield, Harvey Nichols, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Nottingham Contemporary and John Lewis.
For more information about Laura Slater, please visit www.lauraslater.co.uk
- For more information about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, please visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/about-the-rhs-chelsea-flower-show
- For more information about Essence + Alchemy, please visit www.essenceandalchemy.co.uk
- For samples of sound artist Alice Gilmour's compositions, please visit http://alicegilmour.com/music/
- For more information about Katie Rushworth, please visit https://www.katierushworth.com/
- For more information about Zoe East and Opal Video, please visit https://opal.video/
- For information about LAND, visit https://www.instagram.com/land_exhibition/
- For information about SEEDS, visit https://www.instagram.com/seedscollective/
- Zosia also runs an independent branding and print design studio, The Archipelago with her husband, Michael Lewis. For more information, please visit www.thearchipelago.co