The theme of the 2020 Rendezvous aux Jardins was the sharing of knowledge.I created a series of ink drawings depicting a wasp, the insect responsible for creating galls in oak trees. Whilst I practiced using the ink I remembered seeing Japanese ink drawings (sumi-e) and this memory influenced the aesthetic layout of my compositions.
Gall oak ink, which was the standard ink used in Europe between the 5th and 19th centuries, dates back to its use by the Egyptians 2500 B.C. Notably, the oldest and most complete Bible known to exist is written using ferrous oak gall ink.
Joss Burke, artist, designer and curator at Cairnhill garden produced a series of liquid inks derived from oak galls found in Cairnhill. She distributed these inks to selected artists exhibiting in her garden for the Rendezvous aux Jardins 2020 exhibition.
