Art in the Gardens: Sounds of Nature

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See art boards co-created by a Goldsmiths Art and Ecology MA graduate and students at Conisborough College, inspired by the Museum’s music collection and the sounds of nature.

Over the course of four workshops run by a Goldsmiths Art and Ecology MA graduate, Conisborough College students created artwork inspired by music as well as sounds of nature from the Horniman Gardens.

Students explored sound and drawing techniques as tools for noticing and connecting with our shared environment. They responded to the Horniman Gardens through sonic activities and considered climate and ecological issues that were relevant to them. The five boards show students’ works that were created during the workshops.

To create the work students drew around their hands and were asked to write down the emotions they were feeling. They described being in a place that made them feel good. The students made marks inspired by listening to music and lyrics about the environment as well as natural sounds. They then created collages based on the marks and forms they had created.

See the results of this partnership on display in the Horniman Gardens throughout the summer.

Conisborough College

Conisborough College is a secondary school in Lewisham. The students who attend the school bring with them a diversity of experiences and backgrounds – both socially and culturally – and the school community is built on the strengths of this local diversity. The project gave Year 10 art pupils the opportunity to play an active part in their local community, and the chance to motivate and inspire others through their artwork.

Rhiannon Hunter

Rhiannon Hunter is a London based artist who works across film, text, sound and installation. Her art practice is concerned with relationships with place and the multiplicity of encounter that tangles human and non-human agents, memory, and personal and collective storytelling.

A Horniman garden art board designed by students
‘The thing that made me relaxed was the fact that I was in a musical environment. The hands show how we have different tastes. The marks were created by listening to music and we drew outside to the sounds we heard. The project made me feel I could use art to help the environment.' - Conisborough College student
A Horniman garden art board designed by students
‘This board has lots of marks inspired by listening to music and nature sounds, with most marks being fluid and abstract. We made the marks together and experimented with a variety of mediums. Working with the group was enjoyable and I developed my communication skills. I learnt about nature and making abstract art. What kind of music do the shapes make you think of? How do they make you feel?’ Conisborough College student
A Horniman garden art board designed by students
‘We made the lines by listening to music and natural sounds outside. I really enjoyed doing different types of sketching and just feeling the vibes, also being in the gardens. We looked closely at the marks we had made and created collages with different papers and cards. I like the final design because it’s eye-catching and has so many lines and colours. I learned that ecology is good inspiration for art.’ Conisborough College student
A bright colourful art board at the Horniman
‘The marks on this board were inspired by listening to the sounds of nature and other everyday noises. By doing this project I got more used to collaging and I liked being around nature. In the workshops, I used a range of colours and techniques so that each individual area of my artworks had its own uniqueness. I wanted to show how pretty nature can be.’ Conisborough College student
A Horniman garden art board designed by students, with a green background and pink throughout
‘The music helped me to express how I feel in my work. I enjoyed listening to the sounds of birds and seeing the animals. I liked using the paper and card in my designs and doing the collaging. The process was enjoyable and relaxing and made us realise that natural sounds and worlds can inspire art.'Conisborough College student