Ian Bride Kent, United Kingdom
Currently, I am primarily interested in exploring human/nature discourses through a narrative practice that engages with objects (natural and human-made), representation, and employing a range of processes and means of making. However, I am keen to explore creative synergy with others, whether they have similar or contrasting perspectives, skills and experiences.
My creative practice has been inspired by a critical engagement born of many years as an interdisciplinary academic/practitioner working in the fields of biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and anthropology; a journey that took me to Mexico, Borneo and India on community-based conservation projects focusing on human livelihoods and capacity-building. As well as many science-based conservation-related modules, I taught 'creative conservation, and acted as creative producer for a host of ex-curricular student projects. After the experience of being an Associate Artist at Open School East in 2018, I took early retirement at the end of 2020 to pursue my own creative bent. Now, I am primarily interested in exploring human/nature discourses through a narrative practice that engages with objects (natural and human-made), representation, and a range of processes and means of making. As well as being a qualified cabinet-maker and teacher of traditional woodland crafts, so very familiar with working with wood, I am comfortable experimenting with almost any materials and ways of making; and would relish the opportunity to work with like-minded people on materialising creative ideas through experiential learning using a wide variety of tools and techniques.
