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Nature's Polyphony
Ground-Wood-Trees-Seeds
Sophie Arstall
This research project is an intimate investigation into our interactions in particular within a woodland environment, delving deep into the materiality and systems present and looking at both local and wider ecologies. Through creating an embodied practice, a lens into the uniqueness of this world, I hope to cultivate awareness, understanding and empathy towards this. Through solo studies and a process of documenting through writing, photography and film, emerged practices and scores that formed the basis of two dance and movement workshops offered to the public. The workshops were aimed at both a community local to the area in which I was working, and a community of dance and movement artists interested in this work from around London. This fed back into what is an evolving philosophy and practice of moving with nature.
Dividing the research into the categories of Ground- Wood- Trees- Seeds enabled me to spend time differentiating the qualities of these organisms and systems, gaining an understanding of their suchness and their connection to the ecology of the natural environment I was exploring.
This research was located around the Epping Forest in East London, largely in 3 areas: Forest Gate Community Garden, Wanstead Flats and Park, an open expanse of grass land and tree copses on the cusp of Epping Forest, and the ancient Epping Forest itself.
Nature's Polyphony is a way to acknowledge the multiplicity and diversity of organisms in nature; their substance, temporality, expression, rhythm, whilst bringing these elements together. Creating a layered and simultaneous choir, connecting and responding in real time to the collective, to a symbiotic system and oneness. It is also a way to synthesise the research, to dance the practice and phenomena of moving and learning from nature.
Nature Polyphony was commissioned, produced and mentored by Vanessa Grasse as part of The Land We Are and supported by the Arts Council England.
