In this episode of Brackish, Katie speaks with Agnes Becker, artist, science communicator, and creator of We Are Stardust, about bridging the gap between art and science, connecting with nature, and finding freedom in creative expression.
Brackish is a term used to describe water that is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, for example, where a river meets the sea.
I first encountered it sitting in a boat in just such water and it immediately became one of my favourite words. I am fascinated by intersections, liminal and littoral spaces, overlaps and interconnections, and I want to use this space to explore all of those things – the ideas that don’t fit into neat boxes.
So, I’ll be exploring those things here – the places where craft meets nature, where the rules don’t apply and ‘shoulds’ start to fall away. From occasional ‘salty’ language to refusing to adhere to feminine standards of beauty or behaviour, I am leaning into my brackish era – and I’m doing it here with some brilliant women and non-binary folks who are doing the same.
Key Topics
* Agnes shares her journey from a career in science communication to creating art that blends science and nature, emphasising the importance of awe and wonder
* The evolution of Agnes’ work from precise scientific illustrations to co-creating with nature including her recent river art collection and shift toward more experimental, nature-based creative processes
* They discuss their shared passion for nature and the importance of reconnecting with the natural world along with exploring the concept of "The Call of the Wild" and the benefits of nature connection, including reduced stress and increased compassion.
* The value of getting to know individual species deeply (such as blackbirds and their nesting habits) and the importance of noticing subtle seasonal changes
* How nature connection can help shift perspective away from human-centric thinking
Highlights
The Call of the Wild
"I distinctly remember this one meeting where we were meeting with a funder... sitting in a basement where there was no natural light at all... I had a really clear vision of being in the woods; a pine forest. I can still see it right now, and I was carrying logs. I was wearing some long linen clothes. I could almost smell the wood smoke in that moment... that was the beginning... that was this call of the wild that I talk about a lot of my work, this Call of the Wild being like, nudge, nudge nudge. This isn't quite right for you, you need to be looking elsewhere."
Nature Connection & Wonder
"Instead of just walking past by and saying, ‘yeah, there's a nice bird, singing a lovely song that's good’. Start asking; ‘I wonder where its nest is. I wonder where its mate is. I wonder if it's laid any eggs...’ suddenly the whole world opens... Curiosity opens things up, rather than closes things down."
Seasonal Awareness
"It's really helpful to mark these times so that you can root yourself into the season, not suddenly find yourself in the middle of summer and all of this time and Spring has just passed you by... we're at this time where it's still winter... but there are little stirrings of life. You've got your snowdrops coming up... the catkins are starting to drop. There's little signs of new beginnings and new life."
Connect with Agnes
* Website: wearestardust.uk
* Instagram: @wearestardustuk
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