Sweet Pea Dreams
Sweet Peas grew at the viewpoint facing the view. They were present when human eyes were not, benefitting from the colour performance opposite, unconsciously absorbing the sun’s rays. These delicate, fragrant and colourful flowers with their intertwining stems and tendrils brought recollections of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, of fairies celebrating, of fantasies and secret gardens. At the end of the season, the plants were cut down and moulded into forms where such fairies could continue to frolic.
A nest …
Sweet Pea Dreams – Nest 1 – plant material – approx. 1000 mm x 400 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams – Nest 2 – plant material – Approx 1000 mm (diameter) x 400 mm (height)
Sweet Pea Dreams – Nest 3 – plant material – Approx 1000 mm (diameter) x 400 mm (height)
Eric Likes the Nest
A den …
Sweet Pea Dreams – Den 1 – plant material – Approx 1400 mm x 450 mm
… with a visitor …
Sweet Pea Dreams – Den 2 with visitor – plant material and wool – Approx: Den – 1400 mm x 450 mm; Hare (from a previous project) – 190 mm x 70 mm
Looking out from inside the den …
Sweet Pea Dreams – Den Peeps 1 – plant material – Approx 1400 mm x 450 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams – Den Peeps 2 – plant material – Approx 1400 mm x 450 mm
A bower …
Sweet Pea Dreams – Suspended Bower – plant material, nylon – Approx 600 mm x 900 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams – ‘Dawn Breaks, as the Sun Rises’ – plant material, nylon – Approx 900 mm x 600 mm
The presence of such sprites would only be noticed by those humans who encountered traces of their belongings. First representations of these were coloured and made of a range of materials.
Sweet Pea Dreams – red wedding waistcoat – acrylic – Approx 30 mm x 25 mm – presented on slate
Sweet Pea Dreams iPhone – clay, acrylic – Approx 24 mm x 14 mm – presented on slate
Sweet Pea Dreams – 99 ice-cream – clay and acrylic – presented here on slate – Approx 14mm x 40 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams – beach time – acrylic and inks, clay, wood – presented here on slate – Approx between 20 mm and 70 mm
The colours were considered to be too strong and lacked subtlety. To suggest happy spirits melting away into the ether, items were painted white. The objects varied in size and comparative scale, as in dream-like states. The maximum height of each find being 50mm.
What can you find strewn amongst the petals and leaves of these innocent, childish fantasies?
Sweet Pea Dreams – In a Garden Bower – plant material, clay, acrylic, wood, nylon – Approx 600 mm x 900 mm overall
Sweet Pea Dreams – ‘Remains of a Wedding Celebration?’ – plant material, clay, acrylic, nylon – Approx 900 mm x 600 mm overall
Sweet Pea Dreams – ‘Peeking in on the remains of a tea party at dusk’ – plant material, clay, acrylic, nyon – Approx 900 mm x 600 mm
![Sweet Pea Dreams - lidded pot and topiary - clay, wood and acrylic - Approx [10 mm x 17 mm] [20mm x 40mm]](http://www.mwswg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Sweet-Dreams-topiary-pot-0652-e1429989820534.jpg)
Sweet Pea Dreams – lidded pot and topiary – clay, wood and acrylic – Approx [10 mm x 17 mm] [20mm x 40mm]
Sweet Pea Dreams – sandcastle – clay, nylon and acrylic, presented here on slate – Approx – 45 mm x 30 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams teapot – clay, acrylic, presented here on slate – Approx 45 mm x 30 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams – Laundry Line – clay, acrylic, nylon – Approx 150 mm x 30 mm
Found objects included: gowns and hats, wedding cakes and champagne, crockery and invitations; ice-creams, lollies, books, magazines, beach parasols and windbreaks, towels, sunglasses and swimsuits; wheelbarrows, wellingtons, growing frames, garden tools; jam making and kitchen paraphernalia and a cheeky garden visitor (a cat), keeping en eye on the wild washing on the laundry line.
Secret, whispered messages might also be imagined. Wispy, delicate and fragile words may be apparent spiralling, almost invisible amongst the scatterings.
Sweet Pea Dreams, secret messages – plant material, wires – ‘Belonging’ – Approx 200 mm x 50 mm
Sweet Pea Dreams – neges ar bluen – papur, ink – wedi ei gyflwyno yma ar lechen – Mesuriad bras 70 mm x 10 mm
As always, plant growth suggested interesting designs for future artworks.