Personal Brief:
Through exploring my own relationship with a landscape which I feel connected to, devise a way of inspiring similar feelings within those whom the landscape is inconceivable to.
The landscape that I have chosen is Conigree Woods situated near my home in Gloucestershire, and my audience are those who like to wander.
The Problem:
However, considering the majority of my audience won’t have ever discovered these woods, I had to find a way of ‘convincing’ them that they had.
I have explored different methods of visually presenting my landscape in ways that, for me, the image was recognisably Conigree Woods, but for the viewers, the image could be any woodland they’d experienced.
I have also investigated different ways of communicating my feelings and memories to the audience to allow them to imagine that they too have experienced what I have in relation to the woodland.
The Milton Model:
“The use of language is essential in directing a person’s experience and focus of attention. The Milton model, named after Milton Erickson, lists the key parts of speech and key patterns that are useful in subtly and effectively directing another person’s line of thinking.”
Copyright © 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 Eileen Bertie
My Solution:
To ‘guide’ the viewers through the landscape both physically and subjectively will allow them to connect with the woodland, whether they are in the site described or somewhere entirely different.
The Guide:
The guide is designed as a ‘flexagon’, so not only will the imagery and the text lead the viewers through the woodland, but also the physical revealing of each face represents the route portrayed.
There are two possible routes, not only through the woodland itself, but also through the book (one passage more defined than the other).
The concept being that the viewers have a choice which path they take - physically and subjectively.
The Journal Set:
Including:
Handcrafted travel journal set, containing a unique guide through Conigree Woods.
Including:
-The Guide
-A blank journal for recording your experiences
-A pocket for trinkets found on your travels
Where to locate it: (possible future objective)
As the concept is both a piece of graphic art and visual communication, the original piece would be on show in a gallery (the large panoramic illustration with the journal set as supporting material). However, I hope for the journal sets to be available to be bought in gallery shops, handmade craft shops, as well as taken to craft fairs around the country (UK).
I have considered the possibility of creating a series of guides for different landscapes around the country; from mountain treks to seaside walks. Along with being available from the craft shops, I hope to create a link with different associations such as the National Trust, selling the journal sets and exhibiting relevant illustrative pieces in their prime locations around the country.
