Regarding Forests
Regarding Forests evokes an atmosphere of tranquillity and provides visitors with a space to rest and relax.
Photographer Chrystel Lebas travelled to the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State, USA, and then on to the Japanese island of Yakushima, known for its cedars. These two temperate rain forests contain some of the oldest living trees in the world.
The photographs are accompanied by a soundscape composed with the noises of birds, monkeys and wind recorded on location. The installation is complemented with a scent that evokes the smell of the forest floor after it has rained.
A touring exhibition from the Wellcome Collection, as part of the Thackray Museum’s Tranquillity programme.
Chrystel Lebas Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine #9, Yakushima, 2017
Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine
Researchers at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo discovered the health benefits of shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’. Their findings suggest that the multi-sensory experience of being in nature calms the stress response of the nervous system, which in turn assists the body’s immune response.
Chrystel Lebas, Hoh Rain Forest #1, Olympic National Park, 2019
Hoh Rain Forest, Washington State, USA
Translating the sublime power of these ancient forests through her photography, Lebas’ installation provides a restorative encounter that reminds us of our reliance on the natural world.