‘Everyone has a place in our garden. I am the garden. Those who enter are the garden. Without distinction, without separation’ – Siân Davey
The Garden by Siân Davey is now open in a free outdoor exhibition in Soho Photography Quarter, just outside The Photographers’ Gallery. A new book, The Garden by Siân Davey is published on 9 April 2024 by Trolley Books.
Starting in 2020, British photographer Siân Davey transformed her abandoned garden over three summers into a vibrant space, filled with wildflowers, birdsong and people.
Together with her son, Luke, Davey cultivated a space rooted in love. They researched native flowers and encouraged biodiversity, sourcing seeds and plants locally.
When the flowers bloomed, they called in the community. Everyone had a place in The Garden; the mothers and daughters, the lonely, the marginalised, lovers, the traumatised and heartbroken and those that had concealed a lifetime of shame. They became enfolded into the story of the garden, creating and partaking in the story equally.
As the garden evolved it became an expression of joy, interconnectedness, yearning, sexuality, and defiance. The garden became a metaphor for the human heart itself.
Alongside the large-scale artworks, visitors can listen to The Garden soundscape (2023, by Siân Davey) and watch the film (2023, by Dylan Friese-Greene and Siân Davey), which plays every day from dusk.
Siân Davey will also be giving a talk at The Photographers’ Gallery on Friday 19 April 6.30-7.45pm. Please visit the gallery website for more information.
The Photographers’ Gallery
16–18 Ramillies Street
London W1F 7LW
+44(0)20 7087 9300
www.tpg.org.uk
Exhibition
Siân Davey : The Garden
Soho Photography Quarter, just outside The Photographers’ Gallery.
Now open until 29 November 2024
Book
Siân Davey : The Garden
Trolley Books
£50
www.trolleybooks.com
