The exhibition departs from the practice of propagating trees by grafting, taught by the artist’s father. In muted conversation with philosophers, plant biologists and growers, Rowan Lear considers ideas of inheritance and evolution, straightening devices and mingled bodies.
The installation gleams with the dazzling green of cambium, the layer of stem cells in woody plants from which roots and shoots grow.
Designed to disorient, A sudden branching revels in the intelligence, resilience, and audacity of vegetal life.
A sudden branching grows out of a period of residency at Birnam Arts earlier this year, during which Rowan experimented with darkroom processes and new ceramic techniques and spent time in the fields, forests, and orchards around Birnam and Dunkeld. The exhibition includes a reading nook, where visitors can pause and read related books and articles.
Events Meet The Artist Saturday 14 August & Saturday 28 August, 11am - 1pm, Birnam Arts, All ages, Free, drop-in.
Due to staff holidays, on Wednesday and Thursday this week in the cafe we will be serving Soup of the Day from 12 noon to 3pm. As usual, we will be serving serving hot and chilled drinks, cakes and ice creams from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Sunday.
Our full breakfast and lunch menus will be available on Friday and over the weekend.
We apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment this may cause.