Final Project 2018: Folklaw. A place to create, share and archive the myth.
“The restless mind of man, ever seeking a reason to account for the marvels presented to his senses, adopts one theory after another, and the rejected explanations encumber the memory of nations as myths, the significance of which has been forgotten.“ - Baring-Gould, 1861, Curious Myths of the Middle Ages On the periphery of our vision lies another world. A world of mythical creatures, of the unexplained, the extraordinary and the spiritual. A world of stories as old as our fires. A landscape sculpted by human activity for over 3000 years becomes a liminal point between the supernatural and the natural. An evolving time capsule of folklore. A place to create, share and archive the myth.
The Hearth
Gathering around a fire to share stories is one of the most primitive human acts. The hearth is the place to share. Reconnecting with pagan roots, the four spiritual elements, air, fire, water and earth create the core. Beneath the central light well, a fire sits above a stone waterfall that cascades into the earth.
The Archive
Connected via an old mining tunnel, the archive is buried in the landscape like ancient folkloric myths. Hosting a collection of folkloric tales and studies from over the centuries, the archive becomes a time capsule. The work from each artist in residence is also displayed and then archived here: creating an archive that is living and evolving - like folk tales themselves.
The Artist in Residence
Living, working and exploring the Shropshire Hills while in residence, the artist, writer, musician, photographer: the modern creator, brings folklore into contemporary culture. Provided with their own connection to the Archive and a further archival space inside the converted silo, each creator becomes immersed in ancient and modern folklore.