Surrey, England-based artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey create large-scale living portraits made out of grass. Known for their grass Wimbledon billboards created back in 2008, they have since been compiling a more intimate and personal series to exhibit. Like nature's own photographic negative, they create these stunning portraits by exposing plots of seedling grass to light through a custom-made photosynthesis device in order to make the grass grow in different shades, from yellow to green.
In just a small window of time, the faces in the grass can be perceived before fading away again. When talking about their chosen medium, Harvey says, "The grass has a certain importance because of the simplicity of the blade. By nature it slightly grows towards the light."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Living Artworks
- The trend of creating large-scale living artworks using natural materials like grass presents opportunities for artists and environmentalists to collaborate in creating sustainable and unique installations.
- Photosynthesis Devices
- The development of custom-made photosynthesis devices that can manipulate and direct the growth of plants presents opportunities for designers and scientists to create innovative solutions in sustainable agriculture and urban greening.
- Nature-inspired Art
- The use of natural elements like grass, leaves, and flowers in creating art presents opportunities for artists to explore themes of transience, impermanence, and the beauty of nature in its many forms.
Where This Applies
- Art and Design
- Artists and designers can collaborate in creating installations and projects that integrate living materials like grass and explore themes of sustainability and environmental conservation.
- Agriculture
- The use of custom-made photosynthesis devices presents opportunities for scientists and agriculture experts to develop new methods of growing crops in a sustainable and resource-efficient manner.
- Urban Planning
- Urban planners and landscape architects can take inspiration from nature and integrate living materials like grass and plants in the design of public spaces, creating sustainable and visually stunning environments that improve the quality of life for city dwellers.
