Over the next few weeks we will introduce each of the artists who have contributed to our inaugural exhibition Biophilia. The gallery is open today (Saturday 21st) but in a slightly limited fashion. Some of the artwork is not on display, and we may have to close before 5pm. This is due to problems with the building (leaking roof). We apologise for this, our letting agent has assured us the problems will be fixed asap...
Wren Franklin
Herald
Wren Franklin has been capturing nature with a camera for
the past 15 or so years; with each year that passes he gains a little more
insight into what drives this magpie like need to gather images from the
natural world.
Inspiration is drawn from our shared natural and
semi-natural surroundings; these are often in Dorset
with its wealth of biodiversity and landscapes. These encounters with the
natural world are animated further by different weather conditions and the
resultant light qualities.
Wren’s process relies on trying to be open to nature at all
times and seeking the wild in the everyday. Most of his photographs are taken
either whilst walking alone in the myriad wild places of Dorset,
or as a result of his work in nature conservation, studying various species and
habitats. The use of macro photography enables real wilderness to be found in
an individual flower, insect or in amongst the weeds. More recently, sharing his work with other
people has started to play a part in the process; this helps to deepen the
underpinning process of learning and connection that runs through his
photography.
The driving forces behind Wren’s work lie in
environmentalism, activism and a belief that we need to build greater connections
to all life. You share something of the life of the thing you photograph – it
can no longer be ignored. In a world of disposable culture, intense inequality,
value distortion and unprecedented ecological degradation we need, more than
ever, to make the beauty and importance of all biodiversity more visible.
Notes on the images displayed at The Old Print Room
Chalkhill blue –
One of a series of images taken whilst trying to work out the size of the
Bindon Hill Chalkhill blue colony near Lulworth, Dorset. This freshly emerged
male had climbed to the top of a Hawkbit flower to fill and dry his wings in
the morning sunshine.
Dance of the
Mosquitoes – A difficult image to capture in the last rays of summer
evening sunshine on the edge of a copse near home. Males fly together in
anticipation of females emerging from the vegetation below.
Hairy wood rush –
Amidst the Bluebells, Wood anemones and Primroses of Duncliffe Wood nestled this
easily-missed Hairy wood rush flower displaying all its architectural beauty.
Herald – One of
an ongoing series of ‘Moth of the day’ images posted on Facebook with the aim
of illustrating the spectacular diversity of our common moth species. Moths
generally stay still in day light so I try to use a tripod, natural light, deep
depth of field and long exposures to create detailed portraits of the
characters of this hidden world.
Silver-studded blue
– These diminutive but colourful butterflies inhabit the heaths of Dorset. This one was photographed in the early evening in
its characteristic roosting position, head down on a grass stem. Composing this
image meant kneeling in a bog and sustaining numerous midge bites to my hands
and face.
