Thin Space: A visual essay illustrating the blurring of physical and spiritual worlds within the coastal parish of the Lyn Valley.

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Abstract

Abstract/ProposalRemote and rural, the coastal parish of the Lyn Valley is distinctive in its situation between sea, rural farmland, and moorland. Yet, like the coastal towns of Lynton and Lynmouth which situate this Parish, it is representative of communities across North Devon and Cornwall whose staggering natural resources often serve to highlight a disparity defined by social and economic impoverishment, cultural ossification, and community isolation. A loss of local heritage, individual, intergenerational and community knowledge and identity could occur, if changes to diminishing Mission community interest are not undertaken. Our proposal is a collaborative and spontaneous visual essay embodying a critically reflective, qualitative account of a student participatory project with the Lyn Valley community. During this project we integrated illustration, typographic and oral history methods to capture personal experiences of "thin space" - the blurring of physical and spiritual worlds - with individuals and communities in isolation, through heritage, culture, and landscape. This project investigates "thin space" as an artefact of lived experience and sensory connection to the "other". Through interdisciplinary, co-created representations, it celebrates spaces where communal connections flourish, offering a model to sustain heritage and strengthen community ties.The method of creating the visual essay will extend the creative methods employed during the project itself: group discussion with live empathic translation through drawing, visual note taking, and utterance mapping. The essay will map the methods and process employed during each step of project, from initial ideation, planning and training, methods, community workshops, co-creation and then the ‘returning of the stories’ to the Lyn Valley and wider academic community. The essay will lead with visuals supported by short passages of text. We will provide a bibliography and list of references to support the visuals and to show the scope and rigour of the academic enquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Publication Date

2025-01-25

Publication Title

Journal of Illustration

ISSN

2052-0204

Embargo Period

9999-12-31

This document is currently not available here.

This item is under embargo until 31 December 9999

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