taigh: a wilding garden
In 2014 I documented the build of the National Memorial for Organ and Tissue Donors in Scotland, at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.
A traditionally dry stone 'taigh' was build by stone mason Norman Haddow, based on traditional dwellings such as Taigh na Caillich in Glen Lyon. Beneath it a book containing the names of every donor in Scotland was buried in a kist under the foundation. 'Organ' stones, found in the River Lyon were encased within natural hand woven fibres by Caroline Dear, and embedded within the turf roof of the taigh. Other collaborators include Hanna Tuulikki and Luke Allan.
I also travelled with the collaborators of the project to Glen Lyon, and spent a day walking with them to visit the original Taigh na Caillich.
The project was devised by Alec Finlay, commissioned by the Scottish Government and realised in association with Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop.
In the spring and summer of 2014 I photographed the build of Alec Finlay's memorial for Scottish organ and tissue donors. It took the form of a taigh, based specifically on an ancient structure in Glen Lyon, Scotland. As part of the project, I walked many miles and crossed a river with other collaborators involved in the project to visit the original taigh.
