Lydia Carter

Bio

My work weaves together labour, folk tradition, land and identity. Its interdisciplinary nature has led me to adopt a multitude of rural and endangered crafts, exploring the tension between the rustic and refined. For the past year I have been compiling techniques, bringing attention to European intangible cultural heritage. Alongside this I have been making my own fine art materials, aiming to combine earth ritual and home-grown process.

I deeply believe in the potential of folk culture for reengagement with the land, community and identity. Folk ritual encourages sensitivity towards the seasons and teaches a respect for the land which is not often seen in British culture. Labour and time are elements that I try to emulate within my practice. My pieces often contain layers of process, mirroring the stages of intervention and rebirth that define folk culture. Natural materials often require seasoning, soaking or drying, to dye materials they need to be scoured and mordanted for at least a week, then steamed for multiple hours. This, and the detail within my graphic work, slow the process, encouraging a more deliberate approach to time.

 I use artwork to reflect upon my time in a landscape, often marking the conclusion of self-led pilgrimages. My upbringing in rural Somerset and my involvement in nature conservation fortifies a sacred and devotional relationship with the natural world. The physical, repetitive quality of both land work and traditional craft thus inform a spell-like, ritualistic approach to my practice.