John Thomson's flat pack portable studio cum laboratory (The Red Shed) at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden is ready to be dismantled as the artist prepares to move on...
  
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photographs by: Claire Waffel
...After the mini geodesic dome at Hilliers Arboretum in Hampshire (2001) and the Red Shed at Oxford Botanic Garden (2004 - 2005), John Thomson's notional botanic tardis lifts off to continue its tour of the world's stellar garden collections. His is an ongoing investigation into plant science from a uniquely artistic viewpoint. Invited to spend a day a week working at the oldest botanic garden in Britain by curator Louise Allen, for Thomson this meant access to unsurpassable collections and expertise and the very latest thinking in the cataloguing of plants; an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, Oxford, and a publication worthy of the inspiration and empathy he gets from both nature and its exploration by science. For Oxford Botanic Garden, a celebration of its status and history, new insights into what sensitive outside observers can see in the garden and its research findings and a different perspective on the manifold meanings of scientific work and the application of accumulated botanical knowledge. Broadcaster Paul Evans says Thomson's work 'moves towards a cultural ecology......concerns which link environment with culture, ecological with social justice.' The connection of a Hedera (Hedera helix or English ivy) and a warlike helmet in a Thomson drawing is startling, sending new associations to the botanist and horticulturalist. But the opposite is also true. The sculptor has been inspired by current research in plant science both into the identification of brassicas (cabbages) that can absorb heavy metal pollution and new work that has revealed the resilience and diversity of subterranean fungal networks - projects which have real implications for earths ecology as well as space exploration.
The specific aim of the residency was to establish a visual arts project celebrating the gardens and an overview of the recent developments in the use of DNA in plant classification......for more information and images visit: http://www.thomsonart.co.uk
 
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photographs by: Claire Waffel
RESIDENCY: 2004/ August 2005
ARTIST: JOHN THOMSON.
John Thomson was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1948 and moved to England in 1962. He went to Liverpool College of Art between 1968 and 1971, and was one of the founders of the studio and gallery complex Art Space Portsmouth and the Aspex Gallery in 1980. He has held major one person shows throughout the UK and Ireland and his public works can be seen in many towns, cities and in countryside locations.
HOST: UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN.
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. Throughout its three hundred and eighty year history the Garden has continually evolved and developed to the point that today it is recognised as a classic yet contemporary botanic garden at the heart of the University and City of Oxford.
FUNDING:
Oxford University Botanic Garden; Friends of Oxford Botanic Garden; Southampton Institute Capability funding
EXHIBITIONS:
- The exhibition of drawings and sculpture by Thomson and photography by Claire Waffel celebrating the residency will take place at the Natural History Museum, Oxford, in the spring of 2006
- Christchurch Picture Gallery, Oxford, 2007
- Natural Selection, Six Chapel Row Contemporary Art, Bath 2002
- Star Gazing Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth and Letterkenny Arts Centre, Co.Donegal 2000
FURTHER READING:
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