Rowan Whittington

PORTALS

Rowan Whittington is a third year BA (Hons) Fine Art student, whose project, PORTALS, aims to showcase rural landscapes combined with English folklore.

Fine Art - BA (Hons)

GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF YOUR PROJECT

My project focusses on the natural landscapes of East Anglia, considering the history of English folklore and the influence it has on rural communities. I have displayed this through a series of ‘portals’, viewing these spaces as imagined otherworlds, considering the possibility for alternate universes and the state of everything probable happening simultaneously.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CONCEPT?

I am very inspired by storytelling and view my practice as an extension of this, in which I piece together pieces of history, science-fiction and archive materials into my own new narratives. I see this, along with the focus on my own heritage, as a form of escapism from the hyper-capitalistic city into an imagined world.

WHAT PROCESSES HAVE YOU BEEN USING?

I work across a variety of medias, focussing mainly on film and installation. I aim to be as sustainable as possible with my practice, using found/recycled objects and natural materials to consider to how my art impacts the world and landscape around me.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE WITH YOUR PROJECT?

I hope to have brought awareness to the often forgotten beauty of East Anglia, along with processing my own thoughts around heritage and a sense of belonging.

HOW HAS YOUR COURSE HELPED YOU TO PREPARE FOR WORKING ON YOUR PROJECT?

My course has helped me to develop my practice and confidence in my abilities, from which I have gained multiple opportunities for external exhibitions. I’ve gained an insight into different medias via the workshops and have expanded my work to include new materials that weren’t accessible to me before university.