Lorna Fraser

Forth Flora

Commissioned by Tonic Arts for the new Haematology Department at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. The work comprises of a set of five glazed box frames: three large main frames, linked by two small boxes. These frames contain hand-built porcelain forms inspired by some of the different plants growing within the area of the 3 iconic bridges that span the Firth of Forth. Each frame has a different theme: Flowering Plants, Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and Lichens. <br>

Forth Flora (detail)

Commissioned by Tonic Arts for the new Haematology Department at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. The work comprises of a set of five glazed box frames: three large main frames, linked by two small boxes. These frames contain hand-built porcelain forms inspired by some of the different plants growing within the area of the 3 iconic bridges that span the Firth of Forth. Each frame has a different theme: Flowering Plants, Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and Lichens. This detail shows the box containing flowering plants.<br>

Forth Flora (detail)

Commissioned by Tonic Arts for the new Haematology Department at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. The work comprises of a set of five glazed box frames: three large main frames, linked by two small boxes. These frames contain hand-built porcelain forms inspired by some of the different plants growing within the area of the 3 iconic bridges that span the Firth of Forth. Each frame has a different theme: Flowering Plants, Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and Lichens. This detail shows the box containing bryophytes.

Forth Flora (detail)

Commissioned by Tonic Arts for the new Haematology Department at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. The work comprises of a set of five glazed box frames: three large main frames, linked by two small boxes. These frames contain hand-built porcelain forms inspired by some of the different plants growing within the area of the 3 iconic bridges that span the Firth of Forth. Each frame has a different theme: Flowering Plants, Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and Lichens. This detail shows the box containing lichens.<br>

Scaphium

This installation is inspired by the papery fruit of a large tropical tree that grows in the rain forests of Malaysia and aims to capture the moment when it releases its fruits allowing them to flutter and tumble to the forest floor covering it in a thick carpet. Scaphium freezes in time the fragility and beauty of this event in the tree’s life-cycle. Like a tropical breeze the slightest breath sets in motion the gentle movement of the work. Working with a tropical botanist, we used this work to engage the public about the deforestation of S.E. Asia.<br>

Scaphium (detail)

This installation is inspired by the papery fruit of a large tropical tree that grows in the rain forests of Malaysia and aims to capture the moment when it releases its fruits allowing them to flutter and tumble to the forest floor covering it in a thick carpet. Scaphium freezes in time the fragility and beauty of this event in the tree’s life-cycle. Like a tropical breeze the slightest breath sets in motion the gentle movement of the work. Working with a tropical botanist, we used this work to engage the public about the deforestation of S.E. Asia.

Specimen Jars

These works are part of the series Specimen Jars which are inspired by the pickled plant specimens in the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna. Plants that are too fragile to be pressed and dried are instead stored in spirit within glass jars. I was captivated by these specimens in Vienna and was inspired to translate these into this artwork

Specimen Jars

These works are part of the series Specimen Jars which are inspired by the pickled plant specimens in the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna. Plants that are too fragile to be pressed and dried are instead stored in spirit within glass jars. I was captivated by these specimens in Vienna and was inspired to translate these into this artwork

Parasol Fungi - Think Plastic Project

Made from re-cycled plastic bottles, this work evokes a dreamlike carpet of microorganisms emerging from the forest floor. It was inspired by reading about the discovery of a plastic-eating fungi; however, investigating beyond the headline it proved not to be a quick fix solution to the plastic problem. It fascinates me to think that as we destroy our natural world, we look to nature to come to our rescue.

Lichen Wall (detail) - Think Plastic Project

Hairy and leafy lichens are widely used as environmental indicators and abundant if the air is clean, and I have been observing their beautiful structures for many years in a favourite forest in the Scottish Highlands. Working with robust plastic opened up new making possibilities enabling me to create this work, which I would be unable to do with a fragile and unforgiving material like porcelain. The ironic use of recycled refrigerator plastic (a known air polluter) to represent lichens (a clean air indicator) was a deliberate choice, reminding us of the impact everyday objects have on our environment.