The artist duo boredomresearch (Vicky Isley & Paul Smith) was awarded the Brilliant Bryophytes residency project.
This residency was based with Plantlife in two locations in Powys – in the north of the county, in and around Newtown, and in the south of the county in and around Rhayader.
The project aimed to engage people in re-thinking the way we see species that are small in scale and unremarkable at first glance, highlighting the importance of bryophytes within our ecosystem and the need to conserve and preserve sites in which these rare species thrive.
boredomresearch explored the hopes and fears of two local groups of neurodiverse students at Newtown College. Drawing on the student’s strengths and fragilities to explore those that were shared with two species of rare moss that are undergoing conservation efforts. They used specialist film equipment, to allow the students to immerse themselves in the world of these plants, creating miniature landscapes of pasts left behind. Each participant captured microscopy imagery that became the starting point to create their own moss species designed to provide a remedy for some of the anxieties they were experiencing. This led to the creation of a short film called 'Gentle as Moss on Stone' - a poetic meditation on resilience, memory, and the quiet wisdom of nature.
In this film, a retired bryologist stands at the foot of a moss-covered hill he can no longer climb, weaving tales of imaginary mosses for his young granddaughter. We hear him describe each moss's unique qualities accompanied by an animation that takes us on a magical journey, touched by the sadness of looming departure. Ten fictional mosses are featured, each one holds a secret remedy - coded strengths to help the granddaughter navigate the challenges of life, long after he is gone.