In August 2014 Keir Strickland (archaeologist) and I collaborated on a joint research trip to the abandoned island of Swona. We were also joined by George Geddes and Alison McCaig from Historic Environment Scotland. Here is a link to a blog charting our progress, research and findings: a-n.co.uk/blogs/art-and-archaeology-a-new-collaborations-bursary-project

As a photographic artist, I’m interested between the relationship between photography and archaeology. For this a-n New Collaborative Bursary project I collaborated with archaeologist Keir Strickland, whose primary research interests are the collapse of complex societies, landscape abandonment, and the archaeology of islands. Together we conducted a survey of the abandoned island of Swona, off the coast of Orkney. A New Collaboration Bursary, from a-n Artists Information Co, funded an initial research trip to the island in August 2014. My art practice explores home, place, belonging, belief and folklore. In 2013 I worked as an Artist in Residence at a longhouse excavation in the Highlands, commissioned by Timespan Museum. I am interested in the parallels of the process of excavation, of peeling back the layers of earth to reveal evidence of the past and the indexical quality of a photograph to record reality.

During this research trip to the island of Swona I used video to document the abandoned houses and their position against the surrounding sea. The resulting work is entitled ‘Flood’ and explores specifics of the story of Swona from a poetic viewpoint: the hurried abandonment, the intimate size of the island, the proximity to the restless sea, and of nature taking over the domestic spaces. I use multiple exposure techniques in the film piece to depict the sea slowly encroaching on the land and houses.

Flood (2016), Carolyn Lefley, High definition digital video, dimensions variable, 8’46