Kitty Ryder


Intricate Roots, 2025.

Situated in the Garden. Situated in the Archive. Situated in Natural History. Situated in the Political Sphere. Situated in our Ecology. Situated in Sustainability. Situated in the South. Situated in Botany. Situated in the Herbarium. Situated in the Women who came before. Situated in the Entwined. Situated in Awareness. Situated in the Grief. Situated in the Decay. Situated in the Renewal. Situated in Memory. Situated in the Intricate Roots.

Context 

‘Intricate Roots’ is a critique of image making as a way of consolidating memory and reality, whilst also exploring the Garden space - how it connects, heals, and nurtures all those who enter it. Challenging ideas of memory by printing on organic materials that will eventually decay – mirroring our own mortality. A link between the concept of the work and how its displayed is my research into Herbarium books (books of pressed flower specimens) leading me to combining my own Herbarium of flowers from my mum's garden with imagery of scenes from my life. An attempt to capture memories and moments that have little meaning in a still image, compared to the nature of plant specimens which have huge importance in cataloguing a Natural History.  

Experiencing the world of plants, insects and their delicate ecosystems. Having an awareness of the seemingly insignificant - Gardening takes time, effort and care. It forces us to slow down in our fast-paced society and critiques ignorance in the rapidly advancing digital age we live in. This project has helped me find community in the landscape. Gardening makes me feel connected to my mum and my local town specifically it’s history with Gertrude Jekyll. The exploration of women's histories in botany has motivated me to carry it on.