A groundbreaking new exhibition, Forest Bounds, is set to open its doors at SPUDWORKS in Sway. This ambitious project seeks to forge a conceptual and artistic link between two of Europe’s most iconic bounded landscapes: the New Forest and Venice.
Running from 13–25 April, the exhibition marks the first phase of the In and Out of Bounds project, a two-part initiative supported by a prestigious Arts Council Project Grant.
The project explores these environments as ‘living museums’, shaped by centuries of human stewardship, storytelling, and the delicate balance between people and place.
Of those exhibiting in Forest Bounds, three are academics at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) – Vanessa Collingridge, Course Leader of the Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media; James Elliott, Programme Leader for MA Photography (Online); and Tom Hall, Visiting Tutor for MA Fine Art.
Their work – spanning sculpture, drawing, photography, and moving image – aims to highlight the value of creative voices in regions often overlooked by major cultural investments.
“The project’s intent is to identify people, groups, and even landscapes whose voices struggle to be heard within the strong traditions of a place,” says Tom, who's also the curator at SPUDWORKS. “Both the New Forest and the island of Venice have shared 1,000 years of independent identity as highly managed landscapes and bounded populations.
“The New Forest is recognised as one of the areas of the lowest cultural uptake nationally, and the Venice Biennale as the oldest and most famous cultural event spaces in the world. By taking the work we develop here to the Venice Biennale, we are ensuring that our local community's voice isn’t just heard at home but also resonates on an international platform.”
Forest Bounds delves into complex themes including landscape management, ageing populations, cultural diversity, and hyper-localism. A core element of the project is the collaboration with four local community groups, whose insights and experiences are directly inspiring the work that will eventually travel to the 61st Venice Art Biennale this September.
The second phase of the project, Venice Bound, will take place in Italy later this year. This extension will involve a reinterpretation of the work produced at SPUDWORKS, allowing the ideas generated at a local level to evolve for an international conversation.
“We see these landscapes as mirrors of one another,” Tom explains. “Both Venice and the New Forest face unique pressures regarding conservation and identity. Through this collaboration, we want to explore how these iconic places function as living, breathing museums where the past and future are constantly in dialogue.”
The In and Out of Bounds: Forest Bounds exhibition will run from 13–25 April, with the official opening event on Friday 17 April (16.00–19.30). For more information, visit www.spud.org.uk or https://forestbounds.art.
