Art has a proven positive impact on our mental health. A recent experiment, conducted by Arts and Minds, found that 76% of participants felt an marked improvement in their mental wellbeing after partaking in an creative activity. Recognising this connection, New Geographies invites artists to place contemporary works in unexpected locations across the East of England. The commission by Wysing Arts Centre in partnership with National Trust aims to reframe the landscape, promoting silence, solace and peaceful contemplation.

Entitled ‘MOTHER…’, a pavilion created by Studio Morison invites visitors to embrace the silence of the Fenland it sits upon. Constructed from straw and timber, the cocoon-like structure references a history of traditional building techniques, including thatching. Deep entranceways, high ceilings and brown tones reflect the surrounding countryside, blending into the landscape. The refuge takes inspiration from Richard Mabey’s Nature Cure, a book which details the author’s recovery from severe depression by reconnecting with nature. Devoid of distraction, audiences are reminded of the importance of self-care as well as the ecological responsibility held by humans.

Opens 29 February. Find out more here. 

Image: Studio Morison, MOTHER…, 2020. Photo: Charles Emerson. Courtesy of Wysing Arts Centre and National Trust for New Geographies.