Tongues and Mirrors in Mercury
Nina Royle
Tongues and Mirrors in Mercury was created by artist Nina Royle for From the Field, a series of online commissions devised as a response to the worldwide pandemic in 2020. Nina adapted a text she wrote over the course of lockdown that reflected on ideas about humanness, health, transformation and our relationship to the environment. Tongues and Mirrors in Mercury consists of a webpage containing a highly zoomed-in scrollable image of a woodblock print, which cannot be fully glimpsed, combined with an audio performance of the text. Credits go to May Robson, who produced the sound; Oliver Scott for programming; Eleanor Mumford, who was the second voice; Maria Christoforidou for the text edit; and Tai Long for the acupuncture. The work prompts the viewer to navigate, or read (perhaps like a tongue) the field of the image contained behind the screen of a device, in an up-close and sensual way. You can explore the work here- make sure to turn your sound on!
FROM THE FIELD ANTHOLOGY
Each artist also produced a small physical edition to sit alongside their digital work. These art objects were brought together to make up the From the Field anthology; a compilation of reflections and creations instigated by the global pandemic. Some of the editions are still available to purchase directly from us via our online store Field Notes Editions or from The Shoppery in Penryn. 50% of the purchase price goes straight to the artist and any remaining profit towards a fund for future commissions.
Nina created these beautiful hand painted compact mirrors for the anthology. She took the mermaid at Breage Church as a starting point for her commission, a sideways step away from Covid and the strangeness of lockdown into an exploration of our tongue topography, myth and health.
Nina created these beautiful hand painted compact mirrors for the anthology. She took the mermaid at Breage Church as a starting point for her commission, a sideways step away from Covid and the strangeness of lockdown into an exploration of our tongue topography, myth and health.
FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
From the Field was a programme of artist commissions produced by Field Notes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of 2020 from the first lockdown onwards, ten artists were commissioned to create something quick and reflective to be shared online. We had worked with nearly all of the artists prior and therefore chose to reach out to them as a barometer for the times. Each artist also produced a small physical edition to sit alongside their digital work.
From the Field was made possible by a grant from the Arts Council England Emergency Fund.
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From the Field was made possible by a grant from the Arts Council England Emergency Fund.
GET IN TOUCH:
info@fieldnotes.org.ukThe development of this website was supported by Cultivator Cornwall
