Natur Einsamkeit
Upcoming solo exhibition by Tine Barkmann at the Gallery at Leith Makers, EH6 8NP
Natur Einsamkeit
In German there is a word that describes the feeling of solitude and connection to nature when alone in the forest: Waldeinsamkeit.
It translates loosely to Forestsolitude.
I never gave it much thought growing up close to a forest, wandering through it alone was just something that you would do. But now, many moons later, being in nature, alone, is still my favourite way to connect.
There is a quote by Ursula K. Le Guin, I come back to often even though my art is not the art of words:
“I think hard times are coming where we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, who can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine some real grounds for hope. We will need writers who can remember freedom…”
The times I’m out getting lost in nature are the times when I remember freedom and hope. With this exhibition, I’m hoping to bring some of that feeling of hope and freedom into people’s lives and homes and to share my experience of feeling that we still have a choice. Art can change things, we can change things. I think it’s important that we believe we can, that we are not powerless. We don’t have to be swallowed by the high pressure world we live in, or by artificial intelligence or by the alienation and isolation of contemporary work. We can still choose to connect and choose to listen.
So, who sits around your fireplace? Whose stories and voices are you willing to listen to?
The process:
Cyanotype is a non-toxic photographic printmaking process. It was one of the first photography processes around and made famous by a woman called Anna Atkins who made a beautiful book of British Algae.
Cyanotype is a non-toxic photographic printmaking process. It was one of the first photography processes around and made famous by a woman called Anna Atkins who made a beautiful book of British Algae.
Every image in the exhibition has been hand printed by me and the pictures were taken while I was alone with nature. Cyanotype is known for its deep blue images. By working with different negatives, layers and toning with botanicals, this can be changed. I spend a lot of time with each print, seeing it change. It gives me not only the opportunity to relive a day in nature, but it also reminds me of the possibility of change and choice. The process of Cyanotype and toning with botanicals are organic processes. From the start we have to accept that every single print will be different to the one before, a choice led by nature.
The artist:
Tine is a visual artist and maker based in Edinburgh. She is a trained photographer with a Master in the history of Photography and a PhD in the development of light sensitive material. Creating her own light sensitive material gives her ample room for creative experimentation. She focuses on sustainable photographic processes like Cyanotype and toning prints with botanicals. The works are motivated by her connection to nature and subject matter she comes across when swimming in the sea or climbing up a mountain.
Tine is a visual artist and maker based in Edinburgh. She is a trained photographer with a Master in the history of Photography and a PhD in the development of light sensitive material. Creating her own light sensitive material gives her ample room for creative experimentation. She focuses on sustainable photographic processes like Cyanotype and toning prints with botanicals. The works are motivated by her connection to nature and subject matter she comes across when swimming in the sea or climbing up a mountain.
Her work has been shown in various galleries and group exhibitions including the Glasgow Gallery of Photography, the National Space Centre in Leicester as well as gallery ‘El borde’ in Lima, Peru. This is her first solo exhibition.
There will be workshops as well as free Cyanotype tasters. Find more info here.
Enjoy a little sneak peek of a few duotone and tricolour cyanotypes you can see in the exhibtion:
There will be workshops as well as free Cyanotype tasters. Find more info here.
Enjoy a little sneak peek of a few duotone and tricolour cyanotypes you can see in the exhibtion: