FLOWERCORE is a project created by Scottish musician and composer Siobhan Wilson which celebrates both the beauty of nature and her own personal connection to Scotland’s wildflowers. The multimedia performance combines music and visual imagery, and its inspiration stems from Wilson being forced to leave Edinburgh in 2020 during lockdown due to rising rents, ending up in rural Scotland and becoming immersed in nature.
Wilson’s connection to wildflowers is presented through the medium of her music, as she explains the impacts they have had on her life and how they have influenced her songwriting. The show is in collaboration with various other musicians — for the majority of the show’s run, Wilson was joined by Scottish folk-jazz singer and multi-instrumentalist Niamh Corkey (17-19 August). For the final shows, she is joined by Australian contemporary chamber folk duo Charm of Finches (20-22 August).
Wilson explains the positive impact that wildflowers have had on her mental health, as she battled depression frequently during her 20s. In lockdown, she would go on long walks with her dog McTavish, who would draw her attention towards the flowers. She explains that her interest in flowers began to grow and she would scribble the names down in her flower diary as well as connect with groups online who were also interested in them.
Throughout the show, digital drawings are projected onto the surrounding walls. Some of these are animated, meanwhile others are videos captured by members of these online groups. These beautifully showcase the wildflowers and animals that have inspired Wilson’s music.
The show is funded by Creative Scotland, and is part of the Made In Scotland Showcase. Wilson imagines how her ancestors would have been connected to nature, and reflects Scotland’s contemporary environmental struggles such as wildfires and deforestation.
FLOWERCORE is beautifully immersive, as Wilson’s airy vocals combine seamlessly with the floral motifs displayed. Creating a serene environment that embeds the audience into such a rural and ethereal space that transcends that of city living.
FLOWERCORE ran from 17-22 August in The Basement at The Gilded Saloon.
Image by Somhairle Macdonald, provided to The Student for press use
