The Liveliest of Elements, and Ordinary Extraordinary Material

October 2015

The Liveliest of Elements, and Ordinary Extraordinary Material was a temporary art exhibition by artist Laura Harrington, who is interested in the natural world and how humans understand and interact with it. She works with multiple mediums including film, drawing and installation.

The piece was made in collaboration with physical scientist Dr Jeff Warburton (Department of Geography, Durham University). The collaboration focused on Moss Flats, an upland bare peat flat in the North Pennines, and explored peat as a lively and dynamic material. The exhibition was installed within Durham Castle’s atmospheric Norman Chapel and visitors experienced a moving image work that explored the nature of Moss Flats through image and sound. 

Moss Flats, an upland bare peat flat in the North Pennines.