Words from the Wild: The Nature of Poetry explores different forms of poetry, all of which respond to the natural world. The exhibition expands on what we might think of as a poem, to include films, textile banners, sculptures in beeswax, and prints made from 'listening' to trees. It brings together pieces by award-winning and internationally exhibited eco-poets and language artists, including J. R. Carpenter, Susan Johanknecht and Katharine Meynell, Camilla Nelson and Redell Olsen, along with works by an emerging new generation. 

Eco-poetry is concerned with closely observing, being with and gathering from the more-than-human world; exploring the many ways that language connects with the realms of plants and fungi, animals, birds and insects, and the elemental and microbial processes of water, air, soil, weather. 

This exhibition has been curated by Royal Holloway and TECHNE researchers Caroline Harris, Briony Hughes and Gareth Hughes, in collaboration with the Royal Holloway Culture team.

Explore the exhibition catalogue on Shorthand here: 

This exhibition was open from 17 January 2024 - 24 March 2024 in the Davison Building Exhibition Space.