Art in the Gardens: Natural History

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See art boards co-created by a Goldsmiths Art and Ecology MA graduate and Conisborough College students, inspired by the Museum’s Natural History collection.

Over the course of three workshops which were run by a Goldsmiths Art and Ecology MA graduate, Conisborough College Year 9 students created artwork inspired by the Horniman’s Natural History collection. At the Museum, students drew directly from a range of animal specimens using pencil, chalk and fine liner pens. In school, they made prints using natural materials and worked with clay.

Students also learned about the natural world and the species they were representing in their artwork. The five boards displayed show students’ work created during the workshops.

See the results of this partnership on display in the Horniman Gardens throughout the summer.

Conisborough College

Conisborough College is a secondary school in Lewisham. The students who attend the school bring with them a diversity of experiences and backgrounds – both socially and culturally – and the school community is built on the strengths of this local diversity. The project gave Year 9 art pupils the opportunity to play an active part in their local community, and the chance to motivate and inspire others through their artwork.

Georgia Harris

Georgia Harris is a London-based ecological artist who works across sculpture, text and painting. Her practice is concerned with challenging the way we perceive invasive plant species and the relationships between human body and plant body. The work centres itself within an eco-feminist perspective, discussing the similarities between forms of resistance from woman and plants alike.

Illustrations of ammonites
'I paid attention to the fossils of ammonites. It connects to the Natural History Gallery because they’re housed there. We used a fine-liner pen, pencil and charcoal to make various textures. I looked at pictures and then I tried to use the clay to mimick it. I enjoyed working with clay the most because it was something I have never used before. It was surprising because I didn’t know I would learn so much about nature.’
Illustrations of birds
'This composition is inspired by the natural world and our connection towards it. It focuses on the tiny details that make up different organisms like the feathers that make up a wing. We used taxidermy as models for our drawings which we got from the Natural History collection. We worked with an artist to use many uncommon techniques, like charcoal and prints. I really enjoyed being so close to nature and I hope you do too.’
Illustration of different horns on a purple background
'We went through multiple workshops developing our ideas and expressing our connection to the natural world. We have also learnt how to use different techniques and mediums. The clay piece was inspired by the antlers of a certain type of deer. The thing I enjoyed most about it was moulding the tiny details near the end of the horns. How do you connect with nature? How does it make you feel?’
Illustrations of animal bones
'These artworks are inspired by textures and the beauty of nature while also showing awareness of endangered species. There are a variety of skulls such as sharks, tigers and crocodiles. We used pencils and clay to create different sorts of views. We collaborated to create an eye-catching piece of art. This artwork was made for people to remember and enjoy the Natural History Gallery. It made me learn about unusual animals and plants that I never knew about.’
Illustrations of different shells
'The design on the board has shells all over it. We worked with an artist and drew the one that was most eye-catching. We used clay to sculpt shells using pictures, the real shell and different types of sculpting equipment. It made me feel calm and relaxed. We also learnt that nature is a sensitive subject, and we should look after it and take good care of it.'