In summer 2016, Joni Taylor was a resident at the Delfina Foundation in London.
The Delfina Foundation provides opportunities for artists, curators and writers to develop their practice, explore connections, and build collaborations with colleagues, communities and institutions. The Foundation’s ‘The Politics of Food’ series brought together over 70 artists, activists, anthropologists, agronomists, chefs, curators, scientists and writers from 32 countries through residencies, events and exhibitions.
While in residence, Joni worked on The New Landscape Institute’s contribution to the Empire Remains Shop, a temporary shop-front set up by London based artists Cooking Sections. She developed her project “The Right of Way” exploring the changing nature of the UK’s Right of Way laws, which allow public access across private land.
The work is a continuation of her research into travelling stock routes and heritage landscapes for the exhibition “The Long Paddock” to take place in Australia in 2017.
The Outcomes of the Right of Way project included:
Along the Bridleway
A public horse ride along the bridleways of Bromley, with invited guests local historian Tudor Davis and the Bromley Bridleways Action Group. The group were able to experience the urban greenbelt of London and discover the many battles to keep these trails open and maintained in the face of growing urbanisation.
Redrawing the Definitive Map
An evening event examining the current status of bridleways, byways, footpaths and highways. Guest included The Open Spaces Society, The Ramblers, British Horse Society, Bromley Bridleways Access Group, Past Tense Publishing. The audience were able to find out how they could contribute to the “Definitive Map” by identifying and recording any unlisted or forgotten Rights of Way before the cut-off in 2026.
Kissing Gate Installation
A 2 week multi-media window display on Baker Street made together with Cooking Sections. This adaptation of the traditional Kissing Gate was able to both open and close at the same time, giving more than one user the opportunity to enter this in-between zone and to allow or deny access to each other.
The Right of Way short film
Documenting the New Landscapes Institute’s recent fieldwork horse riding along London’s Green belt
Link to Video.
For more information please see RIGHT Of WAY Project page.
The residency was made possible through the support of the Keir Foundation.
