Merwif

Merwif is a body of work which explores an imagined female marsh deity, a guardian nurturing the delicate ecological balance of a specific bioregion. I imagined this middle-aged woman as marginalised yet powerful - quietly getting things done but fiercely protective of her land and waters. After gathering local reeds and plants, I developed cyanotype prints on fabrics holding personal significance, patch working them into a large-scale sculptural piece.

This work extends beyond the gallery through performance and environmental activism. By incorporating ancient folkloric rituals, I aim to embody ancestral feminine wisdom while sparking conversations about our role as custodians of the natural world. This aligns with a new folk activist movement driven by contemporary artists and curators who are reviving and reinvigorating traditional rituals and folk performance through interdisciplinary practices. This movement reclaims once male-dominated folk customs and evolves them into diverse cultural events, fostering community engagement with local lands and histories.

Perfomance Oare Nature Reserve, Kent. March 2024

UCA, April 2024