From my previous writings and drawings i used aloe vera as imagery to play with the idea of care and soothing; i decided to see if i could use the actual plant in any way. Extracting the aloe vera from the plant was quite a therapeutic process and the jelly inside felt cooling. Although i liked the process of it i don’t know how i would actually use the plant in my work as it just drys out.
The failed aloe vera extraction along with a book of essays “on care” made me think about my mums connection with plants. She has worked at the botanic gardens growing ferns and gingers since i was very young and taught me everything i know about plants. Although i have forgotten a lot of the information she gave me i will always remember the harmful and the healing plants. I have distinct memories of coming home covered in nettle stings from the woods behind my house and using dock leaves to help the itching. i recreated this for a video (stills below). I like how this brings up a story that most people could relate to from their childhood, there is something very simple and pure about tending to a nettle sting.
I also started to think at how when you heat nettles with hot water it removes its sting and can be transformed into something healing. Nettle tea is known historically for treating pain as well as having many other benefits such as reducing inflammation, contains lots of nutrients, treating high blood pressure and even has been used to keep roman soldiers warm. I tried to weave with it and also see what i could do with the soaked leaves. i don’t think any of this looks that interesting but i have thought about how i could use the nettle to stain material so i think this is the next step to try. i also think that the leaves look really interesting in themselves so i might just draw them to be included in the sequential work.
Abigail yeats CAP 