The Longest Day: Shades of Green explored the beauty of green, squares, rectangles, and contemplation.

The work was inspired by memories of my son exploring trees, prompting me to see the world from his perspective. As a mother pushing my kids around in their buggy in London, I often stopped under trees to capture moments with my Bronco SQA camera, creating art while fulfilling my motherly duties. This experience sparked a lifelong journey of seeking beauty in nature to feel a sense of awe, beauty, and peace.

The exhibition featured a collection of square images of trees, displayed in white rectangular frames, a film of leaves playing on a monitor, and a sofa for visitors to relax on.

I noticed how visitors to the exhibition seemed to feel at ease. The relaxed audience reminded me of body therapist Peter Levine’s theory that images impact the body and trigger physiological responses and a German study that found patients in hospitals recover faster when they have a view of nature. Even just a green square has an extremely calming effect. The audience’s response demonstrated that our cells expand and contract in response to visual stimuli, showing the power of art on our well-being.