Joya: AiR / Kay Walsh / NZL

Sounds and sights remain with me on return to London after a week long residency at Joya: AiR

leaking light from the outside in
harsh bright white light dazzling the eye
The thwack thwack sound of the wind turbine
The view through the mesh from my upstairs window The goat bell ringing calling us all to dinner

This landscape pulls you in, holds and envelops, it is a landscape that seems to reveal all but it is the hidden narratives that lie within this place that intrigue. Evidence of seasons, past events, of the power of what nature can do with deep scared channels in the barranco that embody you as you walk its path.

The muted pallet of pinks, whites, ochre and peppered green become the focus.
Finding my feet adjusting to the light and heat meant a circadian shift, up early to catch the light and beat the heat.
It felt important to sink in and be still.

Initially staying close to the house recording the sounds and images that emerged at different times of the day evolved into walking and neural mapping of the surrounding landscape paying attention to the non human, the plants, rocks and terrain. This was an unfamiliar landscape to find a way in.
On day 4 I needed to elevate my view, to step away so I climbed one of the near by hills to get some perspective on my response to this ‘place’.
From above I could see the scale of the art+ecology project Simon and Donna had been working on for the past 15 or so years. Their sheer determination, passion and ambition to create something unique was evident in the land with its contours and plains visible from above.

Thank you for reminding me that our relationship to our environment needs our attention and care if we are to have optimism for our futures.

I look forward to sifting through the images and sounds in the edit to see what comes from my time spent at Joya with such generous and spirited people.

There is a lot to think about on return and a surprising new view of this city which seems so green in contrast!

Kay Walsh

1998-2000 MA Fine Art Goldsmiths University London
1992-1995 BA 1st class hons Central St Martins London

Recent Exhibitions
2022-23 All His Rights RAMM Exeter UK
2020 All His Rights OBS Gallery Beast Exhibition UK
2019 Blue Hills Southwark Park Gallery London
2018 Re-landscsping collage work Outpost Exhibition UK
2017 Inhabitants lighbox work Southwark Park Galleries UK

Simon Beckmann18 September 2023