Seen in this light, the leaves of Southwell assume a significance as one of the purest symbols surviving in Britain of Western thought, our thought, in its loftiest mood.
Interpreting The Leaves Of Southwell
Explore The Cultural Heritage Of Southwell Stone Carvings Through An Artistic Interpretation
ORIGIN
The Leaves of Southwell carvings are world-renowned and have been a source of inspiration for 700 years. There are images of animals and different types of leaves.
There are also “Green Men” carvings who have branches of leaves growing from their mouths or who have heads formed of leaves, mythical creatures and human faces, that combines superstition and fable with religious and spiritual beliefs.
All these representations have strong pagan meanings linked to rites of fertility and possible new beginnings, existing long before Christianity, or maybe they could, perhaps, also represent the resurrection in the Christian perspective.
THE PROJECT
The Project is part of the Museum and Heritage Development MA at Nottingham Trent University and is passionate about helping enhance the creativity of those who visit Southwell through artistic visual interpretation and inspirational artwork.
The Project objective intends to explore through skill-making and imagination the cultural heritage present at Southwell and the interpretation of the stone carvings of The Leaves of Southwell.
The brief was to develop a film of a Tile-Making approach to interpretive design from the Stone Carvings. The ‘Arts and Crafts’ style Tile embodies the creative representation and the integrity not only of Southwell, but also the culture representation for the designer, and craftsmanship value.
The full film is available to be watched here.
INSPIRATION
“When I visited Southwell Minster, I was surprised to find such beautiful hidden treasure. There is something magical about the Chapter House that captivates me. I felt very nostalgic and amazed. It made me think about my Portuguese heritage and reflect on my history while remanence about my late grandfather, who used to bring me to similar places during my childhood. I found myself excited to explore every decorative element, every detail while looking at similarities between the different architectural styles and traditions. There was a sense of familiarity, a sense of home present. I felt welcomed”
Andreia Rodrigues 2020
AIMS AND GOALS
The Project aims to engage the community by helping them to transport themselves back through history and culture.
- To share ideas and explore the different interpretations on the leaves, spark wonder and imagination as well as to inform and educate.
- To explore a creative engagement inspired by leaves carvings, through the exploration of a creative process, inspiration and sense of nostalgia.
- To develop a personal cultural interpretation of British Architecture around the decorative element motif present at Southwell Minster.
- To plan a future workshop on tile-making for Southwell and Nottingham communities participate, inspired by the stone carvings.
Chapter House Photo Gallery
