In conversation with: Lucy Perry, MA Textile Design

Every year, students at Norwich University of the Arts take part in Interchange Week – a unique opportunity to collaborate not just across courses, but across year groups too.

The week is all about developing new skills and new connections, through a wide range of creative sessions delivered by staff and students. These sessions support students to develop their course projects and further establish their voice as creative practitioners.

For MA Textile Design student Lucy Perry, Interchange was the opportunity to deliver an immersive installation at the intersection of nature and technology, with a digital tree bath.

Lucy showcased her work at Norwich’s Immersive Visualisation and Simulation Lab, the IVSL, based at our Havers Road studio. We caught up with Lucy to find out more.

Hi Lucy! Thank you for telling us about your recent installation. Can you start by sharing how your idea for this project came about?

My plans for Interchange Week emerged from the MA collaborative unit, where we worked in cross-disciplinary groups to explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My group worked with film and the 360° screen at Havers Road.

My focus was on SDG3, Good Health and Well-being. Through painting and filming woodland light and movement, I sought to create immersive films that offer respite from stress, while emphasising nature’s preciousness.

Principles of biophilic design are central to my textile practice – visual connection, dynamic light, biomorphic patterns, and awe. Looking ahead to my major project, I anticipate using film as part of a textile installation that captures the sense of wonder I find in nature.

What led you to create a digital tree bath for Interchange Week?

A tree bath – or forest bath – is a recognised form of wellbeing therapy originating in Japan. It immerses participants in a forest to stimulate all five senses, supporting mindful and calming outcomes.

Having seen how impactful the 360° experience was, I decided to explore whether an immersive digital experience could offer some of the same mindful or restorative outcomes as a real tree bath.

I created a workshop for Interchange that offered the digital tree bath experience alongside experimental drawing activities. At key stages during the workshop, participants were asked to rate how calm they felt.

What made Interchange Week a good opportunity to share your work?

Interchange Week sums up Norwich’s interdisciplinary ethos brilliantly.

I was able to work with Architecture, Interior Design and Fine Art students in my workshop. As well as providing a development opportunity for me, it gave them an opportunity to explore a different approach to observation and recording.

I also loved working with the technicians across the departments, who are so skilled and generous with their teaching and facilitation.

“I really enjoyed the journey of this art, overlaying and connecting nature through time.”

– Participant feedback

How did you deliver your workshop?

The workshop was divided into four sections, showing films I had made specifically for the IVSL. These were:

• A mindful viewing of my film, Time Spent in Nature.
• An Autumn Walk. This section involved drawing whilst walking around the space using graphite on long sticks, watching a film of an autumn walk from day to dusk.
• Stills of Nature’s Wonders, a closer look at curiosities found in nature whilst drawing. We used techniques that focused on gesture and mindfulness, rather than a figurative outcome.
• Leaf Films, a journey through autumnal tree canopies of all shapes, sizes and colours, whilst drawing and exploring weight and the scale of the marks made.

Can you tell us more about the relationship between technology and nature in your installation?

Whilst I was planning this workshop, I was asked by a couple of people: ‘why have a digital tree bath when you can go outside?’ In short, nature is not always on hand when we need it – mobility issues and access issues are plentiful.

I also realised, as I was creating the workshop using film clips I had made throughout the year, that film can take us back to another season, as well as another place, and could be really useful for those suffering with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

“I really enjoyed the experimental drawings. The movement helped make the exercise very abstract, as we marked our journeys and awareness of the space.”

– Participant feedback

How would you describe your experience of the IVSL?

The IVSL is a unique resource and the insights I gained can be applied to my work, as I devise interiors, spaces and textiles. Installations that are three dimensional, that have the possibility of being walked through, are central, but also essential is the play of dynamic light.

Overall, the awe and wonder of nature remained key for this installation, and there was a lot of feedback throughout the session.

The things that participants noticed are really relevant to my work – while the formal feedback confirmed feelings of calm, peace, connection, awareness, creativity and inspiration.