Megan Houching

The unknown mystical element of nature creates an abundance of energy, excitement, and possibilities within my mind that I wish to flesh out and uncover through my creative process. Ever since I can remember, forest environments have held a deep reverence for me, an atmospheric tranquillity and connection to the land that I yearn to learn more from. I focus on my obsessions with the intricate forms and complicated natural processes and entwined networks not visible to the human eye. I wish to teach and expose others to the beauty of natural cycles and prompt viewers of my artworks to pause and take a closer look to observe and understand their surroundings on a more intimate, conscientious level. Observation is at the forefront of my practice. A deep intensity of observation must take place when drawing my natural subjects. I meticulously analyse my subjects to pull out the essence and substance through mark-making. It is important to note my artworks do not take on an accurate representation of nature, rather my artworks are fuelled from a place of passion, personal connection, imagination, and curiosity where I unleash my obsessive tendencies into a fantastical constructed plant world of my own. This blurring of the lines between realism and fantasy elements can captivate viewers from an alternative utopic lens.

My plant installation artworks are explorations of juxtaposed collations of plants and propagations, with no actual order or scientific natural process I sculpt my interpretation on a garden or plant sculptural form. Drawing ideas around tending and care for this radical ecosystem I have created, the idea is to not be bound to one type of making, rather my sculpture garden sits within a time and space that has varying forms and meanings, which provide access to new exciting insights. I like to think of it as a support system for my practice. My research into gardening, as a means of understanding our current contemporary climate, is about creating a new outlet for alternative ways of thinking about our environment and how we encounter it.

Drawing as a process responds significantly well to documenting and observing nature and its processes. I have been exploring parallels between the acts of gardening and the ideas of transformation and change. For example, Forest Scape is driven by the gardening process as I sculpt, alter and transform the composition and elements within the drawing as my thinking and ideas fortify. The sculpting garden sits as a support system influencing my drawing as the journey of completion is influenced by my journey of discovery and ideation. Detail sits at the forefront; I learnt I was applying qualities of tending to my garden and plant subjects just as I tend to my drawing. This timely mechanical detailed drawing process is an outlet for me to find a deeper connection with the subjects I draw. I'm able to find connections between the ability to capture a certain detailed essence with graphite and the meticulous qualities of nature. My artworks explore the transparency of the leaves to the repetitive textural marks present on the tree bark, or how the light finds its way through the dense forest canopies to create vibrant patterns which make their mark on the forest floor. Detailed drawing entices one to view the work scrupulously, only to discover more each time you revisit. I am attempting to invite viewers to respond to my vision, pick up a thread to uncover something new or shed light on bridging our connection and appreciation to the natural world and all of its mystical wonders.