Artist creates accessible exhibition about nature

Nathan Slate is an artist and fashion designer from Bridgwater

An artist said he has set up an exhibition about nature in a shopping centre to make it accessible for everyone.

Nathan Slate, an artist and fashion designer from Bridgwater, has opened the immersive installation A Memory of Nature at the Angel Place shopping centre in the town.

The exhibition, which is is free to attend and open until 2 August, features hanging textiles, sounds and images that represent a memory of nature, after climate change.

"I didn't want to cause more climate depression I wanted it to still feel very beautiful and hopeful. It feels very peaceful - I've had people ask if they can bring a book back and sit there for an hour," Mr Slate said.

Mr Slate said he had the idea of an installation where people can discuss a future without nature.

"Eventually I came up with a lot of hanging textiles that have been painted with shadows of nature," he added.

"When I hang my washing out, the trees shadow on my sheets. It's really inspired by that, there are shadows of trees and birds."

The exhibition has been created to remind people of nature, the artist said

Mr Slate added that when Seed Sedgemoor, a collective of local organisations, came to him about the exhibition being in a shopping centre, he was apprehensive.

"A lot of times it can cheapen your work," he explained.

"But I didn't have to dumb down the work. We want real work and we want people to either get it or not.

"They have to see it's available to normal people too."

The exhibition is also being supported by the Arts Council

Laura Hylton from Seed Sedgemoor added: "To Seed it is just really important to work with communities and speak to them about what they want and bring them things for free that people wouldn't have seen before."