What Trellis Taught Me

Trellis is an intensive public art project, taking place across 12 months, with artists, researchers and community groups collaborating to create powerful, innovative works that give voice to the issues that matter most to East London.

Here, some of those Trellis co-creators reveal the ways, big or small, that project has changed their practice, or given them new insights.

Marysa Dowling – Artist, Patterns of Connection

“Collaborative working across disciplines is a powerful and inspiring way to find new understanding. Working over a prolonged period of time to consider and explore ideas in a focused way, through different disciplines and approaches adds rich elements. Having the mix of science and behavioural research, the arts and the involvement of families has brought new ideas and understanding to each of us.

Catherine Perrodin – Researcher, Patterns of Connection 

“This experience has been a great demonstration of the power of working collaboratively, and how important it is for a team to encompass people with different skillsets who can complement each other to overcome obstacles and progress towards a shared goal. It has also taught me to become comfortable with uncertainty, and trust that a process can and will develop in its own time, as long as the team is sound and the project’s purpose is clearly defined. In many situations, and particularly when co-creating with communities, you have some degree of control on how the interaction starts, but the process will then take a life of its own and take you places you wouldn’t have predicted.

Kassandra Lauren Gordon – Artist, Tailor-Made

“I want to do more community/public art using jewellery in my creative practice - I want to do more of these types of projects.

 Dr. Ayse U. Akarca – Researcher, Tailor-Made

“The project has certainly changed my practise, in both science and art.  As a scientist I realised that this project increased my focus and strategic thinking while broaden my perspective. It also provided an opportunity to discover my niche that I would like to focus in my future research.  

It is extremely challenging for me as an artist to see my own impact in the world. This project demonstrated that creating an idea with hybrid strategies can gain more insight through including different perspectives. Therefore, the lasting impact of this project on my art practise is to enrich different perspectives that are directly or indirectly experiencing complex life challenges.”

Ella Bulley – Artist, Material Design Meets AI

“All my projects are still grounded in research and material exploration.  I have gained insight to working with an educational institution and collaborating with researchers, which has meant adapting the way I work slightly. I’ve also had to learn how to communicate to those outside the creative industries that designs are not created within a short time frame, everything is intentional and informed by the outcome of community workshops. 

Caroline Wright – Artist, Material Conversations

“I hope I will be more methodical in future production of artwork but manage to couple this with the more random and risk-taking approaches that are familiar to me and are where innovation happens.

The powerful Trellis exhibition takes place 29 April – 8 May at The Art Pavilion, Mile End Park. It’s free to visit and everyone is welcome. Find out more and plan your visit on the Trellis website.

From communal meals and audio walks, to interactive photography, art workshops and more, discover Trellis’ fascinating free events and activities programme. Find out more and book your place.

Follow the Trellis journey on social media with the hashtag #UCLTrellis and at @UCLEastEngage on Twitter and Instagram