Laura Slater x The Plant Room LAND at LDF
One of the biggest highlights of my LDF experience this year was the LAND collaboration between textile designer Laura Slater and Zosia Berkieta-Lewis of The Plant Room. My photos really don't do it justice, but it was so beautiful that I have to show you.
Both based in Leeds, these two incredibly talented women came together with the support of a Kickstarter campaign. Bringing Laura’s bold, printed textiles and Zosia’s flair for botanical design, LAND showcased Slater’s new collection of the same name. Set amongst a prairie-style mini garden, the installation doubled up as an interactive experience promoting the restorative nature of plants. Visitors were invited to draw their observations in sketchbooks or to simply sit on custom made benches and drink in the calm.
A common thread running through LDF 2018, slow and restful spaces were an indication of society’s need for tranquillity amongst the pressures of everyday living. As an advocate for the benefits of slow living and the positive effects it can have on our mental health, I was so pleased to see this topic being explored in more depth this year this.
Inspired by a five-week residency at Cove Park, Scotland, Slater spent much of her time there exploring pattern. Her free-form drawings emerged as interpretations of the natural surroundings of the Rosneath Penninsula. The result of this became her LAND screen printed collection which can be seen hanging behind the garden.
Zosia’s own work involves designing botanical installations for various platforms - events, shops, workspaces. Her style is wild, expressive and textural. We talked about our mutual love for grasses and the Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. If you're not familiar with his work, you must take a look.
When I got home, I was inspired to order more grasses for the garden. And I may have bought some of the black 'Monolith' fabric seen on the benches for our bedroom project too. Because it was just too perfect to pass up.
