Initial Ideas & Inspiration
Making recycled plantable paper had been something on my to-do list. I’d stumbled upon it a while ago and found it absolutely fascinating how a piece of old paper could be recycled, mixed with seeds and planted to grow flowers as the paper biodegrades.
In uni, the site specific proposal task seemed like the perfect time to start experimenting with this material and process in a Fine Art context. Site specific or public projects aren’t usually ones that I feel most comfortable with. My practice is often small and illustrative (the other end of the scale to interactive large scale pieces) the idea of fitting in with these types of work was intimidating.
However, generating ideas for site specific public art became exciting by thinking about plantable paper.I really enjoyed making the sketches for the Site Specific Proposal and got lots of positive feedback for them. It wasn’t a requirement to actualize the piece in real life, but I had a vision for a project that I felt very passionate about. So I didn’t want to leave this idea behind…
Making & Experimenting
First time making: after watching a few YouTube tutorials, ordering a mould and deckle, and collecting unwanted paper I got stuck in with learning through making. I used newspaper to start with, tearing it and whizzing it in a blender with some water down to pulp. I then added mixed wildflower seeds sieved the mixture and spread the pulp onto the mould, absorbing excess water with a sponge and leaving it to dry. I repeated the process again with printer paper as I didn’t like the grey colour from the newspaper ink.
I had only made two pieces but I couldn’t wait to begin an interactive community rewilding project, I decided to leave the paper hanging from trees with an invitation for the finder to decorate the reverse side and plant the paper wherever they wish. When I walked away from where I’d left them, I felt strange as I’d never left an artwork in public before but excited by all of the possibilities. Someone could have so much fun with this if they found it, or if no-one ever did, it still made a positive impact on the environment.
Second time making: Repeated the process with sunflower seeds, which have been planted and are growing!
Continued making: Developed a more successful paper making technique – mixing the pulp with lots and lots of water and pulling the mould through to achieve a more even, smoother finish. Also, learnt how to transfer a piece from the mould while wet, started experimenting with varied seeds such as lavender, fox-glove, alyssum (all highly attractive to pollinators so great for rewilding) as well as adding various dyes to the paper and integrating pressed flowers for decoration.
Further Intentions
I’ve taken the idea Plantable Paper Rewilding London to London Met’s Big Idea Challenge 2021! Informed by my research in rewilding I applied with the idea to the climate and environment category, creatively reintroducing biodiversity back into London, beginning in and around our campuses.
As well as continuing to develop in experimentation (seeds, decoration and techniques) I am developing my idea and pitch according to feedback in the competition. The first pitch was for a community-based workshop project including making, decorating and planting paper recycled from London Met. I have been advised to simplify the pitch to making and selling the finished product, with workshops possibly taking place at a later stage.
Currently, I am a semi-finalist in the competition and this has assured me that this idea is beginning to go in a very positive direction. If I reach the final, I could be provided with the finances needed to start up Plantable Paper as an environmentally friendly business! However, if I don’t make it to this stage of the competition I will still gain a very valuable experience and further confidence in my idea going forward, and will continue to work on it with or without the funding and expert advice.
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