Exhibition open at King’s Lynn Old Worker’s Club, 23 Church St, PE30 5EB, 10 – 11 October 11- 6
Future Wash became the title for a body of work which emerged during Anna Harding’s residency for the Wash Estuary project. Using the Old Worker’s Club as her studio, kindly lent by its new owner, she became fascinated by its history and archives. This context inevitably influenced her approach to uncovering further local histories and contexts
“At a time of accelerating climate change, who can we trust to show us the future?
Even in medieval times, people had their thoughts controlled by the powers that be. Carvings in churches show attempts to convey a moral code and prevent rebellion and debauchery, maintaining a life dominated by ritual.
Routines relating to the seasons and climate were (and still are) crucial for survival, knowing when to plant and harvest, watching fish, tides, seeing what cured what, learning from nature. “
Anna explores figures past, present and future.
Family stories, old books, archive images from True’s Yard in North Lynn, and people she drew at Custom House King’s Lynn at sunset all infuse her work.
Deep Wash memories of salt marsh, her grandad’s convalescence in Hunstanton, early childhood holidays at a Heacham chalet, trips to admire King’s Lynn Custom House, ancestors in Skegness (why did they move there? Was it TB? Was he a wrong’un?)
To stop dwelling in the past she presents young professionals, our next chapter, New Vancouvers if only we put them in charge, replacing historic figures with their forward thinking, ideas for the Future Wash and optimism.
Anna Harding
Anna Harding’s work responds to the past, present and future of locations which she feel strongly connected to. Through observation and speculation, she combines interests in modernist optimism, seasonality and climate change. She is influenced by changing seasons, the ability of nature and memories to quietly take over, getting submerged in them.
Anna’s practice involves research, plein air painting and photographs, before further work in the studio. She uses oils, large watercolour, drawing and print.
The work is conceptual AND intuitive. Underlying this is an interest in places and their vibe, past visible in the present, futures which haven’t quite worked out according to the dream. She responds to sites, seasons and weather conditions, nature creeps in. Faced with urgent environmental and social challenges, she processes the power of nature to take over.
“Family history in The Wash gives me empathy with this landscape and fascination to dig deeper. My mum holidayed in Skegness at her auntie’s guesthouse. Her grandfather moved there for sea air after catching TB (when Skegness is SO Bracing railway posters promoted rail excursions from King’s Cross). The first Butlins holiday camp opened in Skegness, soon becoming a wartime military training base deflecting bombing. Photos show my mum at a talent contest, or maybe I imagined this? Another photo shows great aunts on the boating lake where auntie Vera was cashier.”
