Greta Wood
As someone whose childhood has been rooted in the outdoors, the natural world is the place where I feel the greatest connection. Therefore, a lot of my work tries to capture the sensation of being immersed in nature. For me, the most powerful and atmospheric quality of the natural world is its light, and my project began as an exploration of how natural light influences human mood and behaviour.
The portrait project in the Lower Sixth informed much of my later work. Inspired by Klimt, I investigated the visual impact of pattern, integrating natural motifs to suggest how identity evolves over time. Since then, my work has become increasingly textural, developing into several mixed media projects which incorporate experimental processes, such as cyanotype photography and natural dyeing. In this regard, my work is driven by process.
Aiming to portray the immersive quality of the natural world, much of my work rejects conventional linear perspective, instead disrupting reality to create a fragmented and layered view. For example, elements of reflectivity and transparency run throughout my exhibition. Through this, I wanted to present the natural world as a whole. Additionally, I hoped to break down preconceived ideas about what an image or object is, instead focusing on the emotive response arising from moods created.
Initial explorations of light and mood led me to explore circadian rhythms, specifically the impact of light on sleep. As my work became centred upon biological processes, I began to consider ancestral heritage, including ancient myths surrounding the symbolism of light and the sky. By exploring human relationship with light and the natural world, my work aims to connect viewers to their biological roots and bring people together through shared identity and experience.