The Willow Project is inspired by a sense of almost meditative serenity I experienced at Harriett’s Press. It is fusion of conversations about different shades…
Emily Atkinson
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The Willow Project is inspired by a sense of almost meditative serenity I experienced at Harriett’s Press. It is fusion of conversations about different shades of green, Persian poetry, mandala patterns, Celtic folklore and ancient wisdom from around the world.
Willow project notes
Trees are natural delights and something I seek out whenever I want to find clarity and inner calm and to feel grounded and balanced. My deep connection to nature has always been strong as I developed my own love of trees early on in life. I grew up in a land of forests and lakes in a beautiful tree-filled town, which is located above a picturesque riverbank and I was fascinated by books steeped in folklore and the enchantment of nature.
Life in such a busy city as Brighton can be frantic and overflowing with abrupt noises, flashing lights and large crowds. This project is an invitation to bridge the gap between us, urban citizens, and the natural world. An invitation to integrate the nature into our daily life by awakening our senses.
Below the Willow
Willows are ubiquitous trees, which are easy to propagate, and there are about 450 species of willow, widespread across Europe. Willows have long inspired writers, poets and artists and feature repeatedly in paintings by Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Osiers, or thin willow shoots, have been woven into baskets, fences and even furniture. Willow bark contains significant amounts of a chemical called salicin, which can be converted in our bodies to substances that have analgesic and fever-reducing effects similar to aspirin. Interestingly, ‘Willow pattern’ is a distinctive and elaborate chinoiserie pattern used on ceramic tableware that can be found almost in every charity shop in Brighton.
Willow pattern
The willow tree has had long association with superstition and sometimes this association has created a link between a willow and sorrow. One species in particular – the weeping willow – got its name from the appearance of raindrops running down its long leaves, making it look like the tree is crying. Such association has made the weeping willow a symbol of grief and mourning. Fortunately, willow’s gloomy connotations are not the only ones. The willow tree symbol is a prominent feature in many world folklore and the willow tree is believed to bring good luck. In many cultures, this tree is associated with immortality and rebirth and many see it as inspiring and symbolic of humans’ capability to withstand hardship, adversity and loss.
Preston Park
We are surrounded in busy towns and cities by trees and while we often do not notice them, they (and their stories) are there, inviting us to know them better. Knowing a tree means looking more attentively. From intricate root systems, through the bark, individual for every tree, like a fingerprint. All the way to the leaves, with such a huge variety of patterns, textures and shades of green… Only then we will be able to discover the stories beneath the bark.
