The Bigger Canvas: Liz Harrington and Laurence Harding

National Trust Flatford Commission

Liz Harrington and Laurence Harding were appointed as commissioned artists for National Trust Flatford, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of John Constable’s iconic landscape painting, The Hay Wain.

Laurence Harding and Liz Harrington are photographic artists, whose work embraces experimental, historic and sustainable photographic practices.

Inspired by The Hay Wain, and the parallels between photography and painting, the artists explored themes of light and shadow, and reflected on memory, time and the spirit of place. The project aimed to help diverse visitors to Flatford connect with Constable on their own terms; working with photography and an experimental approach, the artists offered people an opportunity to rediscover Flatford, Constable and his creative process.

Throughout Summer 2021, the artists worked with visitors to create an immersive and interactive installation that celebrates the idyllic views that inspired Constable. The finished piece, entitled Landscapes at Noon, is on display in The Granary exhibition space at Flatford, and is made up of floor to ceiling cyanotype* panels inspired by the landscape, exhibited alongside photographs taken using pinhole cameras, and smaller pieces created using a range of other interesting photographic techniques, old and new.

Visitors and local community groups were invited to participate in the creation of the exhibition, through a series of pop-up workshops with the artists.

This commission is part of Essex Cultural Diversity Project’s Arts Council NPO commission programme, funded by Arts Council England. It is the latest and third artist commission delivered in partnership with the National Trust, building on the success of commissions at National Trust properties in Coggeshall and Colchester.

Above: Images from workshops and a short film from the large nature print workshop with Razed Roof, an inclusive performing arts group who visited the artists at Flatford from Harlow.

Responses at the start of the project, when the commission was announced:

Laurence and Liz said “We are thrilled and honoured to have been selected for this exciting commission in celebration of the 200-year anniversary of Constable’s ‘The Hay Wain’. Inspired by Constable and the landscape at Flatford we will be using a range of experimental, historic and sustainable photographic techniques to create a series of new works, including a large-scale participative community-based installation. We are really looking forward to working with ECDP and National Trust over the next few months, as well as engaging with visitors to the site, offering an alternative way to interact with Constable’s work and the location in an accessible, fun and creative way.”

“We are delighted that Laurence and Liz are the successful artists. What impressed us most was their idea to celebrate the Hay Wain through the use of sustainable photographic techniques. In addition, their enthusiasm to share their work with visitors and engage new audiences should ensure that as many people as possible discover more about The Hay Wain”. Simon Peachey, Welcome Manager at Flatford

“We are very pleased to be working in partnership once again with the National Trust on this exciting project for Flatford, as part of our Arts Council England NPO commission programme. Projects at Bourne Mill in Colchester and National Trust properties at Coggeshall have paved the way for artists to help visitors connect to the rich history of these treasured sites, and we are looking forward to continuing this important work”. Indi Sandhu, CEO and Creative Director of Essex Cultural Diversity Project

About the artists

Laurence Harding and Liz Harrington are photographic artists specialising in experimental and historic processes, as well as currently exploring more sustainable photographic working practices.

Both artists are particularly interested in the environment and nature being an active ‘participant’ in the making of the work and have significant background in working on site-based projects in Suffolk and Essex.

Laurence Harding lives in Essex, and her most recent photographic work at Two Tree Island, on the Thames Estuary, investigates the history of the island, and showcases a series of lumen prints and pinhole photographs processed in a sustainable and locally sourced plant developer. Laurence has also held workshops combining walks and creative photographic activities on the island, for this year’s Estuary Festival.

Liz Harrington has produced ongoing projects and works based on the areas around Orford Ness and Shingle Street beach in Suffolk since 2010. Her recent project Where Land Runs Out (2019), a series of camera-less cyanotypes was exhibited at Broadway Gallery in Letchworth Garden City. The works captured the traces of waves, wind and sediment at Shingle Street beach as well as abstract photograms of flora from the beach, where the plants themselves were used to develop the works.

*Cyanotype is one of the earliest photographic processes, invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel. It is an iron-based process, which is safe to use, and by placing objects or negatives on top of cyanotype coated materials and exposing to sunlight, blue tinted images can be created.

lizharrington.com | www.laurenceharding.co.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford