News
Regarding Gardens: Carolina Melis' poetic response to Ham House and Garden
01.05.2012
We are delighted to present Regarding Gardens, a new film by Carolina Melis, now online and in exhibition at the National Trust’s Ham House and Garden, Richmond until 16 September 2012.
Carolina’s animation is inspired by the historic gardens of Ham House and the estate’s 17th century owner, and was commissioned by National Trust’s Garden of Reason programme. Regarding Gardens continues her exploration of ideas of delicacy, organic development, life-cycles and living, creating a beautiful and melancholic reflection on the past lives at Ham House.
Renowned cellist Julia Kent, from Antony and the Johnsons, provides the soundtrack to the film, with her track, Missed, creating a stirring accompaniment to the action. The film features a specially commissioned poem, written and read by award winning poet Simon Barraclough.
Carolina and Simon worked with historical researcher Michael Ann Mullen to unlock the historical and social context of the gardens and their 17th century owner, Elizabeth Dysart who held the vision for the garden. The film features illustrations inspired by 17th century botanical illustrations, and detail from a 17th century painting of Ham House by Henry Danckerts. An essay by Michael Ann about the history of the gardens can be read online at animateprojects.org.
Regarding Gardens is a living portrait of the historic Garden of Ham House. The film animates an organic journey of growth and reduction through time, space and cultural changes of Elizabeth Dysart’s garden as seen through the words of the poem written and narrated by Simon Barraclough.
