PAPILIO

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2023

Historic England & North Yorkshire Council 

Selby Abbey North Yorkshire 

 

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Definition - Derived from Medieval Latin, meaning tent or butterfly - a dual reference to the temporary and the transformative.

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This installation draws upon the ephemeral structures of historical festivals and marketplaces, as well as the foundational narrative of Selby Abbey itself. The printed swags, applied to the scaffolding wrap, evoke a theatrical drapery - simultaneously concealing and revealing - as the building undergoes restoration. It becomes a symbolic gesture of care and transition, bridging past and present.

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Central to the visual language of the work is the motif of plant life, referencing the fertile wilderness encountered by the Abbey’s founder, Saint Benedict, in the late 11th century. According to tradition, Benedict arrived at the site following a series of visions experienced during his time at the Abbey of Auxerre in France. Upon arrival, he is said to have begun building the first structure beneath the protective branches of an ancient oak, known as Strihac - a story still reflected in the intricate foliage carvings throughout the Abbey.

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The project coincided with early spring 2023. During this time, Ed collected wild plants native to the surrounding area—yarrow, wild chervil, nettle, bramble, and others. Using high-resolution photographic techniques, he documented each specimen in meticulous detail. These images were digitally manipulated into repeat patterns and printed on fabric, forming the basis of a large-scale studio installation and a sculptural artwork sited in the north aisle of the Abbey.

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