Lost Words Exhibition

A wildlife-themed exhibition at the Carnegie Galleries in Dunfermline? Let me think about that for a minute. Yes, I'm going. Nicole accompanied me and the event had just a few days left to run. Upon arrival, Nicole realised the source material was based on a book of illustrated poetry (in the form of spells) she had immensely enjoyed.

Published in 2017, The Lost Words was created as a response to the belief that children are losing touch with the natural world around them. A survey of primary school pupils suggested that 8-11 year olds are more confident identifying common Pokémon characters than our native flora and fauna. Most likely due to increasing urbanisation and the digitalisation of our existence. Apparently three quarters of British children spend less time outdoors than prisoners. Devised by writer Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris, the best-selling publication has inspired school children across Britain, winning numerous prizes along the way. Adults are also part of the target audience. The acclaimed work is an attempt to re-wild the language we use in our imaginations and the stories we tell. The spell format encourages people to read the text aloud and help conjure up references to vanishing wildlife vocabulary. Examples are kingfisher, bluebell, acorn, adder, bramble, conker and wren. Today's exhibition featured 18 poems – one for each disappearing term – and over 50 beautiful watercolour paintings. No photography was permitted in the gallery. I lifted the above promotional image from the museum website. Jackie Morris grew up in rural Worcestershire and has illustrated over 40 books, as well as working for the The Guardian and The New Stateman. She also collaborated with Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. Robert Macfarlane studied at Cambridge and his body of work has been translated in many languages and adapted for film, TV and radio. A notable volume is Wild Places (2007) - which describes a series of journeys made in search of the true wilderness that remains in Britain and Ireland. It was a thought-provoking experience to browse the material and absorb the fact that words I assumed were universal, are in fact slipping away. Those whose lifetimes have straddled the pre-internet days and the smartphone society can draw the best from both spheres, even use the technology to refresh and enhance old knowledge. For the children (and young adults) who know no other upbringing than a screen-focussed one, the future lies on a different path. The proverbial fork in the road.