Rediscovering Nature through the Cyanotype Process

Hive Curates latest project has involved working with communities in Thamesmead, London to co-design an art installation that will be featured in the upcoming light festival, ‘Light the Way’, on 4th March. Working with local artist Sarah Garrod we delivered one workshop on 15th January.

Participants were encouraged to see their environments anew by foraging local flora in the nearby landscapes, alongside the artist attendees learned the analogue process of developing cyanotypes using natural light and UV lamps. The process dates back to the 1800s. In 1842 English mathematician, astronomer, chemist, and experimental photographer/inventor Sir John Herschel invented the cyanotype, a photographic process that resulted in a cyan-blue print.

The striking silhouette blueprints will be enlarged and featured in the artwork ‘Nature through a New Lens’ a series of spherical vistas placed back into the environment, to spotlight the biodiversity of the area through the cyanotype process. 

If you’re local to Thamesmead and would like to take part in the upcoming workshop on 12th February 12-3 pm at The Nest in Cygnet Square visit: Eventbrite