Finlay Dale - BA (Hons) Fine Art
Hyfae of The Forest-Flesh of The Other
Deep in the burrows of soft lustre green
a tubular network
calls and mummers in the dark
What stirs in your heart
to see something almost human?
Reach out
Become
Birthed from the soil
split from a starfruit
a supple bed of moss
Flesh of the gods is
ambrosia scented
in the fly agaric cycle
Breathless bacchanalia
satisfy the urge
Dine on pomegranate, honey and fig
quail and quince
Wake in a soft feather bed with leaves in the throat
muddied, bloodied feet
mirage of a human
Call to Pan
What secrets lie behind the twist of twigs?
embraced by roots
crease into skin
Throw off your reticences
delve into soil
Listen to the whisper of something you do not understand
Finlay Dale examines what it means to possess a queer body through explorative movement and costume; becoming something warped, not quite human. ‘Flesh of the Other’ combines costume and reality, play and provocation. The relationship of skin and senses within nature intertwined with Dale’s own gender identity brings a positive outlook on trans bodies. The natural world can be an unbiased haven in which to explore the shape and fluctuation of ones body. This othering of the external self was enhanced by the public who witnessed ‘The Hyfae.’ Reactions varied between intrigued and suspicious. No explanation was offered.
’Hyfae of The Forest’ considers nature as a concept through the lens of folklore and mythology. There is an inherent association between the fae folk and mushrooms. Mycelium’s workings and communication with its surroundings are elusive and intriguing, much like fairytales. Both part of worlds that are not quite our own, both full of life and death. Dale’s exploration into these non-human worlds allows one to wonder how to care for and consider the natural environment and our inherent entanglements with it.
