natalie mcilroy

The Doggerland was the former, mesolithic landmass that connected the UK to the Netherlands. ‘Survival Kit for the Doggerland’ contains various elements from net making instructions to edible plant seeds, that would allow for survival in a land that no longer exists. In the current global climate of immigration, asylum seeking and general feelings of ‘placelessness’ the work references both personal and political dialogues.

Artist book created whilst on residency at La Fragua, Belalcazar, Spain in 2012. Each day Natalie selected a photograph from the local archive and responded to it site specifically and spontaneously. Sometimes she was able to re-create the photograph almost identically. Other times she had to respond in other ways, such as sculpturally or in a performative manner. What started as a simple tool to create work turned in to a greater community project which enabled the artist to engage with her surroundings and the local community. The project became a mapping strategy to understand the geography of the village and the history of its peoples.