The National Trust is delighted to be reopening the doors to Nunnington Hall from Saturday 19 February with a new exhibition.
Cause and Effect is a new exhibition and is the culmination of a two-year exchange between between partners: the National Trust; the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Project; the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and two independent artists: Paula Hickey and John Arnison.
The Ryedale landscape has been shaped by the River Rye and its people over millennia. In this exhibition visitors can hear from people whose lives are affected by the river and explore artist’s responses to the Rye. People are intrinsically drawn to water, and no wonder, it is vital to our existence. We look to it not just through necessity but also for recreation. Rivers also have the power to devastate. In nature there is constant interaction between materials, processes, form, time and space. If we alter any of these then rivers will adjust accordingly: cause and effect. Destruction can bring renewal, awe and increased resilience. Most of the natural features that cause us to stand, awestruck, are either the work of one large event or the graft of unerring flow over millennia.
John’s images capture the beauty of water in motion and evoke the sense of awe we feel in its presence. He has also photographed some of the people whose lives are directly connected to the river, capturing them within their immediate environment.
Paula’s work also visualises the beauty and liveliness of the river and the patterns it makes. She hopes to generate a felt response akin to the experience of being in the presence of water.
Paula Hickey, artist, says ‘Working on this project over the past two years has been an enriching experience. Getting to know the Rye river and the beautiful landscape through which it flows has deepened my connection with nature – in particular my awareness of the absolute power and beauty of water. My hope is that the work I am exhibiting reflects the journey I have been on. Through adopting a responsive approach, I have identified a range of themes for the exhibition, in which I aim to reflect the beauty, transformations and dynamic processes within nature.’
Ryevitalise has been made possible via the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are connecting more people with the River Rye through this exhibition.
Cause and Effect runs until Sunday 3 July 2022.
