Over a three-month period, I collaborated with Tyntesfield National Trust, a group of young people from the Hartcliffe-based community organisation Heart of BS13, and sound artist Jono Gilmurray to develop a sound and visual installation for Tyntesfield’s Victorian aviary.

As part of the project, I led a series of workshops in which the young participants contributed directly to the installation, painting its components and producing bird collages that were later displayed within the aviary alongside the final work.

Together, we explored the history of the site, considering both the types of bird life that once inhabited the aviary and the broader significance of birds within Tyntesfield’s history. This included examining how the extraction of seabird guano for fertiliser contributed to the wealth of William Gibbs, situating the site within wider narratives of industry and empire.

The project created opportunities for the participants to develop new creative skills while exhibiting their work within a National Trust setting. It foregrounded the voices and talents of young people who are often underrepresented in the arts, offering a platform for visibility and recognition.

The resulting installation not only reflects these layered histories, but also opens up space for critical dialogue, encouraging audiences to consider Britain’s colonial past and to acknowledge the environmental and human costs underpinning the accumulation of wealth.

Find out more information here.