Green Man

A conversation of sorts with an ancient archetype, the vegetative man. The Green Man has been a symbol, a grotesque, a counterpoint, a warning, a celebration, a form of elemental embodiment, since prehistory. For the artist, he appeared in a dream, while on a residency at John Ruskin’s house – Brantwood – where he took the form of the great bearded Ruskin himself, his mouth stifled with the branches and creepers growing from his mouth, trying to speak, failing to be understood, because well, his mouth was full of branches.

Runtime: 4m 38s

See it on Vimeo: Green Man.

There are over 110 ‘green men’ in Rosslyn Chapel, symbols of fertility and rebirth.

The work consists of oak, hazel, beech, ash and maple leaves, on a foliate head.

Available screening formats:
Single channel HD digital video. Source format: Apple ProRes 422, 1280x720p

Credits: Directed by, camera, editing and sound: Richard Ashrowan